WALES

Air Services

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made to establish (a) inter-Wales air services and (b) scheduled air services from Swansea Airport.

Peter Hain: The Welsh Assembly Government announced plans for an air service linking north and south Wales in December 2004. It is working to start the service towards the end of 2006 or early in 2007.
	When the Assembly first announced plans for an intra-Wales air service, it supported, in principle, a Swansea-Cardiff-Valley route. I understand that it has not proved possible to include Swansea in the network in a way which would ensure a reliable service. In the circumstances, the Assembly has decided to focus on the Cardiff to Valley service but will keep the situation at Swansea under review.

Carers

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Torfaen constituency are (a) paid carers and (b) unpaid carers for relatives.

Peter Hain: The number of unpaid carers in the Torfaen constituency recorded at the 2001 census is 10,114. There is no recorded data on the number of paid carers.
	The Government recognise the tremendous personal commitment of people who are prepared to care for a severely disabled relative, friend or neighbour and has introduced significant improvements in the benefits available to them, such as the carers' allowance. By 2005, there were approximately 1,000 claims for carers' allowance in the Torfaen constituency.

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of (a) the services the Community Legal Service provides to rural Welsh communities and (b) the likely effect on rural Welsh communities of the proposed termination of the service.

Peter Hain: The Community Legal Service (CLS) in Wales is improving. Between April and November 2005, 8 per cent. more clients were helped than in the same period for the previous year.
	People living in rural communities in Wales can access legal advice and assistance not only via face-to-face services but also through the Community Legal Service Direct website and helpline.
	There are no plans to terminate the CLS in Wales.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 894W, on council tax, how many photographs were taken of domestic properties for the council tax revaluation in Wales.

Peter Hain: The Valuation Office Agency holds no record of how many external photographs, of domestic properties, were taken for the purpose of council tax revaluation in Wales.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on media training in each year since 199798.

Peter Hain: None.

Health Funding

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will write to Rhodri Morgan, the Leader of the Welsh Assembly, to express concerns about the effects on the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital of the level of funding by Welsh health authorities for patients crossing the border to use the hospital.

Peter Hain: As my hon. Friend made clear to you in a response to an oral question, from you on 15 February 2006, Official Report, column1441, an agreement for treating Welsh patients during 200506 is in place between the Royal Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust and Powys Local Health Board. The terms of a new contractual arrangement for 200607 are currently being negotiated. Both bodies are working to ensure that the best quality health care is provided.
	However, I also understand that you have written to the Welsh Assembly urging the case for more Welsh patients to be treated in Shrewsbury, in the interests of sustaining the service.

Licensing

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the level of (a) applications for and (b) grants of licences for the sale of alcohol over 24 hours in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about matters affecting Wales. Despite numerous ill-founded predictions in the run up to implementation of the Licensing Act 2003, relatively few premises applied for permission to sell alcohol over 24hours and only a minority of these have been pubs, nightclubs or bars.
	Figures provided by DCMS indicate that an estimated 80 per cent. of applications made by pubs, nightclubs or bars, to vary licences resulted in the imposition of conditions (eg restriction of opening times, use of plastic glasses). In over 95 per cent. of cases that led to a hearing, Licensing Committees responded to residents' concerns by adding conditions and/or adjusting hours.
	Early indications show that we are moving towards a genuine pattern of variety in opening and closing hours.

Ministerial Activities

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period.

Peter Hain: This information can be provided only atdisproportionate cost. With regard to letters, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 137140WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House. The report for 2005 will be published in due course.

Pathways to Work Pilots

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on pathways to work pilot schemes in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with the Cabinet Colleagues on a range of issues, including Pathways to Work.
	The Pathways to Work pilot in Bridgend-Rhondda Cynon Taf has been a real success, helping almost 4,000 people into work. Pathways to Work will be extended to Swansea and West Wales from April 2006 and the Eastern Valleys from October 2006.
	In addition, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions recently confirmed that Pathways to Work will be extended across the country by the end of 2008, an investment of a further 360 million.

Police Restructuring

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he plans to meet the Welsh police authorities to discuss the proposed restructuring of Welsh police forces; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Following the recommendations of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, last week my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave notice of his intention to merge the existing police forces in Wales, creating a single strategic force. In accordance with sections 32 and 33 of the Police Act 1996 these police authorities, local authorities and chief constables have until 2 July to raise objections.
	It is imperative that there is full and open dialogue between the Government and key stakeholders. Negotiations on amalgamation will continue and I trust that the authorities will use this statutory period to agree the best deal possible for Wales. I will of course continue to discuss these issues with police authority members in Wales as appropriate.

Private Office Costs

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of his private office was in the last year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office Annual Report was published in June 2005 as Cm6545, instead of a Departmental Report. It is available in the Library and gives information on Wales Office running costs. Private Office costs are not separately identified.

Tourism

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had discussions recently with the Welsh Assembly Government on the tourist and leisure industries in the South Wales valleys; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a variety of issues, including tourism and leisure industries.
	The South Wales valleys have received nearly 1 million from the Wales Tourist Board to encourage and promote tourism within the area.
	Under the heads of the valleys programme, the aims of which include improving the potential for tourism, the Welsh Assembly Government also intends investing 140 million by 2020 that will lead to a further 360 million of private sector investment.

Transport Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what investment in transport infrastructure schemes to support economic regeneration is being considered in objective 1 areas in Wales; what the schemes are; what the amount of public investment is; and when he expects decisions to be made.

Peter Hain: A number of transport schemes have been supported under priority 6 measure 1 of the current (200006) objective 1 programme. Details of individual projects and the grant they have received are available under the approved projects section of the WEFO website (www.WEFO.Wales.gov.uk). Two further transport projects are currently under appraisalLlandudno Interchange (requesting 1.189 million objective 1 grant) and Swansea Westway Corridor (requesting 1.35 million objective 1 grant).
	For the period 200713, West Wales and the valleys will qualify for full convergence funding. The programme should be of a similar scale to the current objective 1 programme (which is circa 1.3 billion over seven years). The draft UK national strategic reference framework, which includes a Welsh chapter, is currently out to consultation. There are six priorities proposed for West Wales and the valleys, one of which is creating a favourable business environment, including transport, ICT and environmental infrastructure.

Wind Farms

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had discussions recently with the Welsh Assembly Government on the scale of proposed wind farm developments in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with Assembly colleagues on a range of matters, including wind farms.
	I understand that in Neath Port Talbot there is currently one wind farm under construction and one at the planning stage. Ffynnon Oer, when built, will have a capacity of 32 MW. Mynydd y Gwrhyd in Pontardawe would be 14 MW and is undergoing a planning appeal.
	The Assembly Government's Technical Advice Note8 identifies a number of strategic locations around Wales suitable for onshore wind developments. Parts of Neath Port Talbot are covered by Pontardawe and Coed Morgannwg TAN8 Strategic Search Areas.

Wind Farms

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the relationship between wind farms and tourism and leisure in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with Assembly colleagues about a range of matters, including wind farms and tourism.
	The impact of wind farm developments on local tourism is addressed as part of the local planning process. There is no evidence to suggest that wind farms deter tourists, indeed some wind farms are themselves tourist attractions. For example, the UK's first commercial wind farm in Cornwall received 350,000 visitors in its first eight years of operation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Genetic Use Restriction Technologies

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what meetings Ministers and officials in his Department have had at which varietal genetic use restriction technologies were discussed since 1 January 2005; what the date of each meeting was; and who the participants were in each case.

Gareth Thomas: DFID officials met with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) officials on 20 January 2006 to discuss a UK position on this subject.

India

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has made to the Indian government on (a) caste and (b) gender discrimination.

Gareth Thomas: My Department engages with the Government of India at many levels on issues of caste and gender discrimination.
	One example of this is DFID's support to the Government of India's Programme for achieving universal primary education; Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. One objective of this programme which was launched in September 2004, is to narrow the gaps that exist between the enrolment of girls and boys, and children from castes and tribes that have historically been excluded. These are known as scheduled castes and tribes.
	The recent Mid Term Review of this programme indicates that it has been very effective in increasing the enrolment of girls and scheduled caste children. Gender parity has improved by 3 per cent. and girls now represent 47 per cent. of the school population at primary level. The proportion of scheduled caste children has increased from 19 per cent. in 2003 to 21.3 per cent. in 2005. This exceeds the proportion of scheduled caste children in the general population. This success has been achieved through a range of strategies that have helped to tackle discrimination at all levels.

Polio (India)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State forInternational Development whether he expects the wild poliomyelitis virus to be eradicated in India in 2006.

Gareth Thomas: Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis (GCC) criteria state that countries can only be certified as polio free when they can demonstrate the absence of wild poliovirus transmission for at least three consecutive years in the presence of excellent surveillance. We expect India, one of only four remaining polio-endemic countries in the world, to interrupt transmission of the virus in 2006 and be certified polio free in 2009.
	The India Expert Advisory Group on polio eradication (IEAG) meeting in December 2005, attended by officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) reported that India has made its most important progress towards eradication to date in 2005. As a result of an intense eradication programme, polio cases in India fell by 50 per cent. in 2005 to 66; the lowest annual total ever, from 134 cases in 2004 (and 35,000 cases in 1995). Innovative immunisation, surveillance and community mobilisation approaches have reduced polio to its lowest geographical extent ever, with cases occurring mostly in western Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar. However, the recent onset of cases (seven confirmed so far in 2006) has demonstrated that progress is fragile and that strong political and financial commitment will be essential to finishing the job.

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effectiveness of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Gareth Thomas: The United Nations Industrial Development Organisations (UNIDO)'s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)s, is in areas of trade capacity building, energy and environment, and non-agricultural industrial development.
	Under the previous Director General, Carlos Margarinos, UNIDO implemented a number of reforms to improve its effectiveness including establishing a strategic framework with clear priorities, and a results based management system to monitor its performance against these.
	The challenge for UNIDO's new Director General Kandeh Yumkella, will be to ensure that UNIDO continues this progress and fully engages in the UN Secretary General's efforts to bring greater overall coherence to the UN operational system.

TREASURY

Cash Machines

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total amount of charges that bank customers will pay to access money from their accounts through fee-charging cash machines in 200607; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There is no official estimate of the amount of charges that bank customers will pay to access money from their accounts through fee-charging cash machines in 200607. However, the Government are aware that the proportion of transactions carried out through surcharging machines is only 4 per cent. and believes that it is unlikely to rise significantly in the future.

Cash Machines

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the results were of his Department's work to monitor the number of (a) banks being sold and (b) banks closing their cash machine networks; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury does not officially monitor the number of banks being sold.
	Following the Treasury Select Committee's report on cash machines, the Government committed to monitor the ATM market, including the impact of charges on vulnerable and low-income consumers.
	The Government subsequently asked LINK to keep it updated on the trends in the market, including the number of free and charging cash machines and the volume of cash withdrawals from these machines. These statistics have now been made publicly available on LINK'S website.
	In addition, the Financial Inclusion Taskforce has commissioned research into how low income groups access cash and transmit money and this work will indicate the extent to which fee-charging ATMs are used by the financially excluded. The results of this work are due later in the spring.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 16 December 2005, from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, PO reference: 7/12600/2006.

Dawn Primarolo: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Public Service Pensions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the note on the Total Liability of Unfunded Public Service Occupational Pension Schemes publishedon 2 March 2006, what the impact on total liability would have been if all unfunded state pension schemes had adopted the real discount rate of 2.4 per cent.

Des Browne: The Government's latest estimate of the total liability of unfunded public service pensions has been provided in the answer I gave on the Floor of the House on 2 March to the hon. Member for Ludlow. This was based on the discount rates used to draw up the relevant scheme accounts and full details are set out in the paper I placed in the Library of the House. Applying different discount rates would produce different estimates of the total liability but this would not affect the size of future cash payments.

Public Service Pensions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on (a) the cause of the Prior Year Adjustment made in the 200405 accounts of the unfunded occupational public service pension schemes and (b) the impact of the adjustment upon the cash cost of these schemes.

Des Browne: The Note deposited in the Library on 2 March showed that one component of the increase in liabilities reported in accounts of unfunded public service pension schemes as of 31 March 2005 was the impact of prior year adjustments amounting to approximately 6 billion in total across all the accounts of all the schemes. This is the total effect of incorporating new data on membership and entitlements which, had it been available earlier, would have led to the liabilities being reported as higher by this amount in previous estimates. The new data and the new total liability calculated from it does not have a material effect on the projections of cash payments to be made by these schemes as a proportion of GDP in future, as shown in the latest Long Term Public Finance Report published in December 2005.

Warwick Agreement

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the financial effects of the reform of (a) funded and (b) unfunded pension schemes as a consequence of the Warwick agreement.

Des Browne: None. I understand that no such reforms were contained in the 'Warwick agreement'.

CABINET OFFICE

Engagements

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many public events the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster attended in his capacity as a member of the Cabinet from 8 September 2004 to 6 May 2005.

Jim Murphy: During his period in office, the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster attended a variety of public events, including speeches at conferences, regional visits and visits and events relating to Duchy business.

TRANSPORT

Air Passenger Records

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bodies maintain records of passengers on board non-charter aircraft which transit the United Kingdom.

Karen Buck: holding answer 2 March 2006
	None. There is no obligation for operators to provide passenger lists to any UK body when transiting (i.e. overflying or refuelling in) the UK. Flight plans received by air traffic service providers contain no information about passengers, although copies of the full flight plan, held at the airport of departure, may include the total number of persons on board.

Aviation Health

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the inter-departmental Aviation Health Working Group to publish the findings of the review it commissioned from the independent Committee on Toxicity on evidence collected by the British Airlines Pilots Association.

Karen Buck: The completed Committee on Toxicity (COT) review will be published as an agreed statement on the COT internet site.
	It is not possible at this early stage of the process to say when the COT review will be finalised.

Bathside Bay Development

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who has been appointed to conduct the Stage 1 Study into the options to improve the A120(T) in relation to the proposed Bathside Bay development in Harwich; when he expects the study to be published; and when he expects to announce a preferred route for the improvements.

Stephen Ladyman: The Stage 1 Study is being carried out by Faber Maunsell, on behalf of and funded by the developer, Hutchison Ports Ltd and in association with the Highways Agency and Essex county council. Hutchison Ports anticipate that the study will be completed by the end of May.
	The development has yet to receive formal planning permission. If that were to be granted, public consultation could take place later this year, leading to a preferred route in 2007.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there will be a direct Crossrail service from Shenfield to Heathrow.

Derek Twigg: No decisions have yet been made on the final service pattern of Crossrail services.

Driver Disqualification

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are plans to impose a driving ban in the UK on British drivers who are disqualified from driving in other EU countries.

Stephen Ladyman: The United Kingdom is signatory to the 1998 Convention on Driving Disqualifications 1 , which is intended to provide that a motorist, disqualified from driving abroad, should not escape the consequences of that disqualification when they return to their country of normal residence.
	The 1998 Convention applies, as it stands, to the member states of the European Union as they were in June 1998. Once the Convention has entered into force (90 days after the last of the 15 original signatory states has notified the EU Council that it has adopted it), it will mean that any holder of a Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence disqualified from driving in another European Union member state in which the Convention applies will be required to surrender his licence to (or have his licence kept from him by) the United Kingdom authorities, whichever is applicable, until such time as the period of disqualification has been served. Under the Convention there would be reciprocal arrangements to deal with licence-holders of other states to which the Convention applied which had been disqualified in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, so that they would be disqualified in their state of residence for motoring offences committed here.
	The 1998 Convention will not come into force until all the original 15 signatory states have ratified it. So far only Spain of the original 15 has ratified; Slovenia has also done so. However, meanwhile signatory states may, if they choose to do so, cooperate on a bilateral basis within the framework established by the Convention. The United Kingdom passed the necessary primary legislation to enable it to ratify the Convention, or to apply it early under the process of notification provided by the Convention, as part of the Crime (International Cooperation) Act 2003, and I recently exchanged letters with my Irish colleague declaring our joint intention to cooperate bilaterally as soon as possible.
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 147W.
	1 Council Act of 17 June 1998 drawing up the Convention on Driving Disqualifications (98/C 216/01).

First Great Western Trains

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints his Department has received since January 2005 about First Great Western Trains' service performance; and how the Department responded to such complaints.

Derek Twigg: Until July 2005, complaints of this nature were dealt with by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). Since then, the Department has dealt with 33 complaints about First Great Western Train's service performance. The complaints included a range of issues, each of which was dealt with according to the points raised.

First Great Western Trains

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the punctuality of services on First Great Western Trains Ltd. up to December 2005.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail, are responsible for monitoring the performance of the train operating companies. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and First Great Western to address performance and these are monitored monthly. In addition, I have held meetings with Network Rail and First Great Western to discuss performance issues.

Free Travel (Swindon)

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the funding required to fund free off-peak travel for (a) older and (b) disabled persons on buses in Swindon;
	(2)  how much funding the Government are providing to Swindon local authority to provide free bus travel for (a) older and (b) disabled persons.

Karen Buck: The Government are providing an extra 350 million for 200607 through the Formula Grant system which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities. This funding is unhypothecated; therefore it is not possible to identify the concessionary fares funding for individual local authorities to local authorities.

Heritage Railways

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of exempting the heritage railway sector from the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006.

Derek Twigg: I had a constructive meeting with representatives of the Heritage Railways Association on 1 March to hear their concerns about the draft Railway and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations which have been proposed by the Health and Safety Commission. I am currently considering the options on how best to address their concerns.

M11

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision to close the M11 motorway on Saturday 25 February.

Stephen Ladyman: At approximately 05.50 hours on Saturday 25 February, a recovery vehicle was called to assist a stranded lorry on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway of the M11 between junctions 6 (M11/M25) and 7 (Harlow) that had caught fire. Due to the intensity of the fire, both vehicles were quickly engulfed.
	Although the fire was safely extinguished, the recovery vehicle was carrying oxy-acetylene cylinders. Acetylene gas is a highly volatile substance that can explosively decompose if exposed to extreme heat. The fire service instructed an immediate 200 m exclusion zone around the accident scene and this necessitated the closure of the M11.
	As drivers attempted to leave the motorway, the local road network quickly became overwhelmed with the traffic demand placed upon it. As a result there was a rapid build up of traffic on the M11 leading to severe congestion.
	The Highways Agency is engaging with the fire service, the police and Essex county council to establish the facts of the events of 25 February and to assess what lessons can be learned for the future.

Manchester Metrolink

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority since 1 January 2006 regarding Metrolink Phase 3.

Derek Twigg: Since 1 January 2006, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has discussed expansion of the Manchester Metrolink network with members of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority in the context of the wider transport needs of Greater Manchester and the North West.
	Officials from the Department have had a number of discussions about Metrolink Phase 3 with members of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive since 1 January 2006.

Manchester Metrolink

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in the past six months regarding the proposed extension of the Metrolink network in Greater Manchester.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 March 2006
	Since 1 September 2005, 11 letters including four from hon. Members were received by the Department in relation to the proposed extensions to the Metrolink system. 12parliamentary questions directly relating to the subject (including this question) were asked during the same period.

Manchester Metrolink

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had since 1 January on the proposed extension of the Metrolink network in Greater Manchester.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 March 2006
	Since 1 January 2006, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has discussed the proposed extension of the Manchester Metrolink network with members of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and others in the context of the wider transport needs of Greater Manchester and the North West.

Manchester Metrolink

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the proposed extension of the Metrolink network in Greater Manchester.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 March 2006
	An announcement will be made in due course, once we have received and considered the full business case from the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

National Speed Survey

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the 2002 National Speed Survey.

Stephen Ladyman: A copy of the 2002 Survey of Traffic Speeds in English Urban Areas is already in the Libraries of the House.

Rail Regional Planning Assessments

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the revised timetable is for issuing the rail regional planning assessments.

Derek Twigg: The East of England Regional Planning Assessment (RPA) was published on 16 February. I am currently considering the draft of the North East England RPA with a view to publication shortly. An updated programme will be published after the publication of that RPA.

Rail Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on developing more accurate methods of measuring train punctuality.

Derek Twigg: Measuring standards for reporting train times are laid down in Rail Industry agreements. The accuracy of the recordings used to measure punctuality is an operational matter for Network Rail, and is subject to industry procedures and checks, and in some cases to external audit.

Rail Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answers of 20 December 2005 and 1 February 2006, Official Report, columns 2914W and 562W, on train services, how many train services in each train operating company were partially cancelled in 2005; and what the reason was for each cancellation.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the form requested.

Rail Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many national rail services have been replaced by bus services in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: National rail services are regularly replaced by bus services as a result of planned engineering works or in response to incidents. The Department does not keep a central record of the number of such services put in place. In only one case since 1997 have alternative services been put in place as a result of a formal station or route closure; this being the 1998 closure of Sinfin North and Sinfin Central branch when an alternative taxi service was put in place.

Rail Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what standards in relation to (a) staffing, (b) policing and (c) CCTV are to be incorporated into franchise contracts and invitations to tender.

Derek Twigg: The invitation to tender for each franchise includes a requirement for bidders to set out their approach to identifying risks, upgrading existing systems and installing new measures to reduce the level of risk to passengers. Evaluation will take into account proposed station staffing levels, CCTV coverage and operational relationship with British Transport and the Civil Police, when determining to whom the franchise should be awarded.

Railway Stations (Defibrillators)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway stations have defibrillator machines; what steps are being taken to increase the number of stations equipped with defibrillator machines; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 March 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	The NHS Plan published in July 2000 outlined a proposal to provide 3,000 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places as part of a 300 million investment in new equipment for the national health service. Phase 1 of the national defibrillator programme undertook installation of 681 AEDs across 110 public sites.
	85 AEDs were installed at London underground stations and 267 were installed at train stations as part of Phase 1 of the programme. Table one lists the location of sites and the numbers of AEDs installed:
	
		Table 1
		
			 Site Number of AEDs 
		
		
			 Leeds Station 7 
			 Euston Station 5 
			 Liverpool Street Station 7 
			 Manchester Piccadilly Station 9 
			 Birmingham New Street Station 7 
			 Waterloo Station Waterloo International 12 
			 Victoria Station 16 
			 Earl's Court LUL Station 3 
			 Reading Station 5 
			 Coventry Station 3 
			 York Station 4 
			 Stansted Express 2 
			 London Bridge Station 8 
			 Sheffield Station 5 
			 Exeter St. David Station 3 
			 Bristol Templemeads Station 3 
			 Plymouth Station 3 
			 Barnsley Interchange 4 
			 Crewe Station 6 
			 Preston Station 5 
			 Stockport Station 3 
			 Euro Tunnel, Folkestone 7 
			 Peterborough Station 2 
			 Paddington Station 12 
			 Luton Airport Parkway Station 2 
			 King's Cross Station 5 
			 Newcastle Central Station 3 
			 Charing Cross Station 4 
			 Ipswich Station 2 
			 Blackfriars Station 3 
			 Doncaster Station 3 
			 Norwich Station 1 
			 Liverpool Lime Street 4 
			 London Marylebone 2 
			 Birmingham International Station 3 
			 Birmingham Snow Hill Station 3 
			 Bristol Parkway Station 2 
			 Clapham Junction Station 9 
			 Didcot Parkway Station 3 
			 Oxford Station 3 
			 Chelmsford Station 2 
			 Ilford Station 3 
			 Romford Station 4 
			 Hull Paragon Station 4 
			 Wakefield West Gate Station 2 
			 Carlisle Station 3 
			 Lancaster Station 3 
			 Warrington Bank Quay Station 2 
			 Wigan Station 3 
			 Huddersfield Stn 2 
			 Billericay Stn 1 
			 Manchester Victoria Station 5 
			 Cambridge Station 2 
			 Nottingham Station 4 
			 Brighton Station 2 
			 Darlington Station 1 
			 Grantham Station 2 
			 Baker Street LUL Station 8 
			 Liverpool Street LUL Station 6 
			 Charing Cross LUL Station 8 
			 Newark North Gate Station 2 
			 Oxford Circus LUL Station 6 
			 Golders Green LUL Station 3 
			 Kennington LUL Station 4 
			 Stratford Station 7 
			 Stratford LUL Station 2 
			 Bank/Monument LUL Station 13 
			 Victoria LUL Station 5 
			 Shenfield Station 3 
			 Colchester Station 3 
			 Haywards Heath Stn 2 
			 King's Cross LUL Station 6 
			 East Croydon 3 
			 Queen's Park Station 2 
			 Euston LUL Station 5 
			 Waterloo LUL Station 12 
			 Watford Junction Station 5 
			 Fenchurch Street Station 3 
			 Paddington LUL Station 4 
			 Gatwick Airport Station 2 
		
	
	National defibrillator programmePhase 2
	In 2001, the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) agreed to provide 110 million to tackle Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and stroke, 6 million of this funding was allocated to the national defibrillator programme.
	The British Heart Foundation was made the award partner in October 2003 by the BLF for the funding of the national defibrillator programme in England. The funding has provided a further 2,300 AEDs in the community together with funding for a community defibrillation officer within each ambulance trust to co-ordinate programme activities.
	A total of 12 AEDs have been allocated to ambulance trusts to install at London underground stations and 31AEDs have been allocated to ambulance trusts to install at railway stations for the second phase of the programme.
	Table two lists the location of sites and the numbers of AEDs to be installed:
	
		Table 2
		
			 Site Number of AEDs 
		
		
			 Oxenholme Railway Station 2 
			 Bournemouth Railway Station 1 
			 Poole Railway Station 1 
			 Dorchester Railway Station 1 
			 Weymouth Railway Station 1 
			 Cheltenham station 1 
			 Gloucester station 1 
			 Stroud station 1 
			 Herefordshire Railway Station 1 
			 Skegness Railway Station 1 
			 Lincoln Railway Station 1 
			 Boston Railway Station 1 
			 Grimsby Railway Station 1 
			 Scunthorpe Railway Centre 1 
			 Bond Street London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Camden Town London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Cannon Street London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Embankment London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Farringdon London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Green Park London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Hammersmith London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Leicester Square London Underground Ltd 1 
			 London Bridge London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Moorgate London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Notting Hill Gate London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Tottenham Court Road London Underground Ltd 1 
			 Cannon Street Station 1 
			 Elephant and Castle Station 1 
			 Farringdon Station 1 
			 Maghull Railway Station 1 
			 Birkenhead Park Railway Station 1 
			 Winsford Railway Station 1 
			 Southport Railway Station 1 
			 Central Station, Cheshire 1 
			 Guildford Train Station 1 
			 Farnborough British Rail Station 1 
			 Epsom British Rail Station 1 
			 Birmingham International Railway Station 1 
			 New Street Railway Station 1 
			 Shrewsbury Train Station 1 
			 Telford Train Station 1 
			 Wellington Train Station 1

Shipping Accidents

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he collects data on near collisions for shipping.

Stephen Ladyman: There is a voluntary reporting scheme for near misses, through the hazardous reporting (HAZREP) procedure via the Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centres which are located around the UK coast.

Station Redevelopment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department will contribute to the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station.

Derek Twigg: No business case has yet been submitted to the Department for the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station. This would need to be considered before any decision is taken.

Transport Projects (Funding)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities which will receive less money from his Department for transport projects of 5 million and above in 200506 than they did in 199697.

Karen Buck: It is not possible to accurately compare local transport in the manner requested.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Written Parliamentary Questions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Leader of the House if he will arrange for answers to hon. Members' written parliamentary questions to be provided electronically.

Geoff Hoon: In written evidence to the Public Administration Committee on 9 February 2006, I outlined that the electronic parliamentary community database (ePC) which allows for the electronic answering of questions between Government Departments and offices within the House of Commons is currently being reviewed by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons.
	It remains my intention that, in consultation with the House authorities, we should work towards allowing hon. Members to receive answers to their parliamentary questions electronically if they wish.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Art Exports (Canaletto)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions there havebeen between her Department and the Treasury concerning saving the two Canalettos of historic scenes in London from being sold abroad.

James Purnell: holding answer 6 March 2006
	There have been no discussions between DCMS and the Treasury concerning saving the two Canalettos of historic scenes in London from being sold abroad.
	These paintings were considered by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, which concluded that they satisfied the Waverley criteria. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has deferred her decision on the application for an export licence to enable an offer to purchase to be made at the fair market price of 6 million. The owner is considering such an offer and the deferral period will now run until 20 June.

Gambling Act

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures will be used under the Gambling Act 2005 to work with cultural and sporting bodies to tackle illegal gambling.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Act 2005 makes it a key objective of the Gambling Commission to keep gambling crime free, and introduces a new criminal offence of cheating. The Commission will work closely with sporting and other bodies to minimise potential threats to the integrity of events upon which bets are struck.
	Section 30 of the Gambling Act provides for the Gambling Commission, sporting and other bodies to share information relating to the exercise of the Commission's functions. The Commission may also, through licence conditions, require British betting operators to work with sporting bodies and the Commission to identify and track unusual or suspicious betting patterns.
	Under the Act, the Gambling Commission has the power to suspend bets on any event where there is a suspicion of cheating, while they investigate. The Commission is able to void bets entirely if it concludes that the outcome of an event has been fixed.

John Donne (Portrait)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions there have been between her Department and the Treasury concerning making funds available to secure the portrait of John Donne for the National Portrait Gallery.

James Purnell: holding answer 6 March 2006
	The Department and the Treasury have not discussed the matter of funding for the acquisition of the portrait of John Donne for the National Portrait Gallery. The sources of funding for the purchase available to the Gallery include grant-in-aid allocated by the Department, self-generated income, including bequests and donations, and contributions from grant-making bodies. Government has not ring-fenced any grant-in-aid to national museums and galleries for acquisitions since 199293. This allows the Trustees the freedom to decide how much of their grant-in-aid should be devoted to purchases for the collections.
	The portrait of John Donne is on offer to the National Portrait Gallery by private treaty sale on the instructions of the Executors of the late Lord Lothian. This sale to a public gallery would be able to take advantage of the normal arrangements whereby a public institution can take advantage of the remission of any tax that would otherwise have been payable on the sale.
	Following tax remissions, the amount that the National Portrait Gallery must raise by the end of May is 1,652,000. The Gallery has launched a public appeal, with a generous opening contribution from The Art Fund of 200,000 and since then, some 25,000 has been contributed by members of the public. The Gallery has also made an application to the National Heritage Memorial Fund for a contribution towards the costs of acquisition.
	Both the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and the Heritage Lottery fund have a good track record on funding acquisitions. Between them they have awarded almost 200 million in grants for acquisitions over the past 10 years. The NHMF is topped up each year by a tranche of grant-in-aid which currently stands at 5 million, but is set to rise to 10 million in 200708.

National Lottery

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Lottery distributing bodies on funding of capital projects undertaken by voluntary and community sector organisations, with particular reference to village halls.

Richard Caborn: To date, the Lottery has awarded over 258 million to village and community halls. The Big Lottery Fund will make 50 million available over three years through a community buildings programme to benefit projects across England. I have no plans to meet them to discuss this at present.

National Lottery

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants have been awarded to stage (a) cultural and (b) sporting events in the UK from National Lottery funds in each of the last five years; and what the tax income to HM Treasury from those grant-aided events was.

Richard Caborn: Information on all Lottery awards is available from the Department's Lottery Awards Database, searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
	However, cultural and sporting events are not identified as categories on this database. The information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

St. Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much her Department has spent supplying BBC television to residents of St. Helena for each of the last eight years;
	(2)  how much has been collected via television licensing fees from St. Helena in each of the last eight years.

James Purnell: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not supply any television services to St. Helena and has not therefore incurred any expenditure on such services in the last eight years.
	No television licence fee revenue is collected in St.Helena, as the television licensing provisions of theCommunications Act 2003 do not extend to the territory, nor does St. Helena operate its own television licensing regime.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much was provided to local authorities to tackle antisocial behaviour in (a) Swindon and (b) England in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what steps he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to tackle (i) antisocial behaviour and (ii) antisocial behaviour outside nightclubs and public houses in Swindon; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Tackling antisocial behaviour is a cross-departmental issue and many Government Departments contribute to this agenda. A wide range of funding streams across Government have a positive impact on tackling antisocial behaviour. For example Neighbourhood Renewal programmes which focus on the most deprived areas and give practitioners and local communities a real opportunity to turn their neighbourhoods around; DFES through their work on schools and parenting contribute to preventing problems escalating and ensuring families get the support they need; DEFRA and their work in tackling litter and fly tipping which can often blight neighbourhoods where antisocial behaviour and crime can take hold; and DCMS who provide the opportunity to divert young people from the destructive and damaging involvement in antisocial behaviour. The Department for Constitutional Affairs also contributes to ensure a swift and effective criminal justice system for dealing with the perpetrators of antisocial behaviour activity. In 200506, the Home Office has allocated 75,000 to Swindon to tackle antisocial behaviour. 40,000 has been used to fund Operation Graffitia multi-agency initiative to tackle environmental crime and specifically the issue of graffiti. 10,000 has been used to implement the Its Your Call Anti Social Behaviour reporting line and ensure that it is resourced between 9 am and 5 pm during week days. 25,000 has been used to work with the most anti social families. The Home Office has specifically allocated 25,000 to every Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in both England and Wales to fund an antisocial behaviour co-ordinator. This amounts to 9.4 million per annum. We have already provided guidance and support to local agencies including local authorities to help them to target resources and powers to protect the public and ensure that antisocial behaviour is tackled, not tolerated. The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 has been fundamental to our work which has changed the culture of public services and protected our communities. However, while attitudes are shifting, the public's concern is not yet adequately reflected in the priorities of all our services. The Respect Programme will now take this further so that local services are organised so that they respond swiftly and effectively to the problems that communities face today. People need to see and feel thata difference can be made. Swindon received 3,000 from the Police Standards Unit as part of the third Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC). A number of local initiatives are underway to disperse people in antisocial behaviour hotspots in the town centre, including the proposed closure of John Street and patrols of licensed premises. The Government are determined to target those individuals whose abuse of alcohol results in causing disorder in our towns and cities. We have recently undertaken our third Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign to crack down on such behaviour. We have also introduced a range of new powers through the Licensing Act 2003 to deal with the problems of alcohol misuse. In addition, the Violent Crime Reduction Bill will introduce a new civil ordera Drinking Banning Orderwhich will allow for the exclusion from the area concerned of individuals aged 16 or over who are responsible for alcohol-related disorder.

Asylum Seekers (Medical Care)

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to make details of protocols employed by his Office for the clinical governance of medical and dental services provided at detention centres for asylum seekers available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Tony McNulty: All requests for information concerning the clinical governance of medical and dental services provided in removal centres will be fully considered in accordance with IND's obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. Information will only be withheld if it falls within one of the exemptions contained in the Act.

Asylum Seekers (Medical Care)

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) the Healthcare Commission and (b) the National Patient Safety Agency on clinical governance and monitoring of the quality of medical services commissioned by his Department in detention centres for asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: Initial discussions have taken place between the Immigration and Nationality Department (IND), the Healthcare Commission and the Department of Health regarding the registration of removal centre health care providers. These discussions continue. There have been no discussions between IND and the National Patient Safety Agency concerning the quality of medical services provided in removal centres.

Ball-bearing Guns

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the gun offences recorded in the area of the Lancashire police authority in the last 12 months related to the use of ball-bearing guns.

Hazel Blears: A BB gun is an air soft weapon that fires plastic pellets. Of the 259 offences involving firearms (excluding air weapons) recorded by Lancashire police in 200405, 160 related to the use of BB guns.

Child Protection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1714W, if he will make it his policy (a) to ensure that records are maintained of offenders who are given a caution for possession of indecent photographs of children and (b) to prevent such offenders from working with children in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 8 March 2006
	The Circular which sets out guidance on the Cautioning of Adult Offenders emphasises the importance of accurately recording cautions in order to avoid multiple cautioning and to ensure consistency. Cautions must be recorded on the local custody system as well as on national information systems and those given for a recordable offence must be entered on the Police National Computer.
	Under the current Association of Chief Police Officers General Rules for Criminal Weeding on Police Systems, a caution received for possession of indecent photographs of children should be removed after ten years provided there are no convictions on the record and no further cautions have been given. The Secretary of State for Education currently has the power (under s.142 of the Education Act 2002) to make a direction barring or restricting a person from working in the education sector, whether or not a person has been convicted of an offence.
	The list of people subject to such a direction is called List 99. The Secretary of State for Education recently announced that she would be introducing regulations to automatically enter on List 99 anyone who is convicted or cautioned for a sexual offence against a child. At present, convictions (but not cautions) relating to indecent photos of children under 16 constitute automatic barring offences for List 99. It has not yet been decided which offences will trigger automatic barring under the new Regulations, but the cautioning guidance will be changed as appropriate when the Regulations come into force.

Class A Drugs

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department is making in tackling the availability of Class A drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Government's strategy is to bear down on all points in the drugs supply chain in order to disrupt criminal gangs, stifle drug supply and reduce the harm caused to communities in the UK. Increasing quantities of drugs are being seized and organised crime groups and dealers disrupted.
	The latest figures published by HMRC for 200405, show that over 3,000 kg of heroin and 10,600 kg of cocaine were taken out, 299 trafficking groups were disrupted or dismantled and 33.3 million of drug-related criminal assets were seized, depriving dealers of their financial lifeblood. The number of drug trafficking groups dismantled or disrupted rose from 193 in 200203 to 268 in 200304 and 299 in 200405.
	The numbers of seizures of Class A drugs have been rising over the last decade, and the total number of drug offenders brought before the courts has been rising continuously since 2000. The number of offenders convicted of producing or dealing cocaine, crack cocaine or heroin rose by 6 per cent. between 2003 and 2004 and over 80 per cent. of them received an immediate custodial sentence. In Swansea, from 1 April 2005 to date the police report having charged 34 people with trafficking Class A drugs as part of their ongoing operations against supply. But we are not complacent. The Drugs Act 2005 increased the powers of police to bring drug dealers to justice. The Serious Organised Crime Agency, which comes into being in April, will further strengthen our ability to disrupt and convict organised criminals engaged in Class A drug supply. Police force restructuring will ensure that police forces have the capacity, capability and resilience to effectively deal with regional crime such as major and organised drugs supply.

Common Land (Illegal Vehicle Use)

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make representations to chief constables on tackling the illegal use of off-road vehicles on common land.

Hazel Blears: Under section 59 of the Police Reform Act the police can seize any mechanically propelled vehicle which is being driven both in a careless and inconsiderate manner on-road, or off-road (including on common land without lawful authority), and causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. At the beginning of November 2005 we issued to all chief officers in England and Wales additional guidance on the legislation explaining the rationale behind it, clarifying its terms and the circumstances in which it might be used and offering examples of effective operations. At the same time regulations governing the use of the power were simplified.

Common Land (Illegal Vehicle Use)

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to share best practice between local authorities and enforcement agencies on dealing with the illegal use of off-road vehicles on common land.

Hazel Blears: Where the illegal use of off-road vehicles on common land has been identified in a local crime and disorder audit as a problem, we would expect the local strategy to address it. The Home Office issued on 1 November 2005 additional guidance to the police on their power to seize vehicles being used in an antisocial manner.
	This included examples of best practice where the police were working with the local authority to make effective use of the powers available to the two agencies. The Home Office has also organised a number of action days with antisocial behaviour practitioners to share best practice around the topic of antisocial use of vehicles and has provided guidance through the TOGETHER website: www.together.gov.uk.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Warley of 8 December on behalf of Mrs. Charanthayer Viaun of Smethwick.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to my right hon. Friend on 3 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 17 November 2005, acknowledgement reference B27422/5 dated 18 November 2005, on behalf of Monica Brown, Home Office reference S706762.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, dated 30 November 2005 (acknowledgement card B28649/5 dated 1 December 2005) on behalf of Eric Alphanso Bravo, Home Office reference B1023214).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to my right hon. Friend on 3 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, dated 16 December 2005 on behalf of Bahsedin Saleh Busheir, Home Office reference B1114259 (acknowledgement card B30292/5 dated 9 January 2006).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 3 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration, Nationality and Citizenship will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, dated 20 December 2005 on behalf of Alphonse Balolebwami, Home Office reference B1030176 (acknowledged card B30428/5 dated 21 December 2005).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 3 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration, Nationality and Citizenship will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, dated 7 June 2005 concerning Mohd Said Azhar, Home Office reference A047078.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the letter of 7 June 2005 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 11 July 2005.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration, Nationality and Citizenship will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, dated 8 December 2005 (acknowledged 9 December 2005, reference B29404/5) concerning Victoria Apuwisi, Home Office Ref A1129427.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 3 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will provide a substantive reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 22 November 2005 on behalf of Juliet Johnson (Home Office reference J1094975, acknowledgement reference B280265).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 6 March 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 28 November 2005 on behalf of Ousman Dibba (Home Office reference D1101640, acknowledgement reference B285185).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 6 March 2006.

Crime Statistics

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people trafficking offences were recorded by police forces in each county of the East of England region in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The introduction of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in May 2004, created the offence of 'trafficking for sexual exploitation'. For the period May 2004 to March 2005 in the Eastern region, only Bedfordshire police have recorded one such offence.

Crime Statistics

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug-related offences were recorded by police forces in each county of the East of England region in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: There are no figures available specifically on drug-related crime. The available information relates to recorded drug offences only and is given in the tables.
	
		Eastern regiondrug offences
		
			 Police force area 1997(1) 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 223 
			 Cambridgeshire 205 
			 Essex 401 
			 Hertfordshire 215 
			 Norfolk 337 
			 Suffolk 333 
		
	
	(1)Prior to 199899, data collected for 'trafficking in controlled drugs' only and by calendar year.
	
		
			 Police force area 199899(3) 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 1,141 1,081 896 1,009 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,169 1,013 829 798 
			 Essex 2,312 2,483 2,208 2,212 
			 Hertfordshire(4) 1,211 1,192 1,438 1,350 
			 Norfolk 1,534 1,561 1,160 1,211 
			 Suffolk 1,626 1,450 1,178 1,292 
		
	
	(2)Numbers affected by changes in the counting rules and expanded coverage of recorded crime. Data not comparable with earlier years.
	(3)Boundary changes came into effect in 19992000.
	
		
			 Police force area 200203(7) 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 1,069 1,130 1,131 
			 Cambridgeshire 904 1,047 1,174 
			 Essex 2,377 2,295 2,328 
			 Hertfordshire 1,553 1,678 1,754 
			 Norfolk 1,392 1,508 1,602 
			 Suffolk 1,689 1,923 1,974 
		
	
	(4)Numbers affected by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards which came into effect in 200203. Data not comparable with earlier years.

Disorder Offences

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many fixed penalty notices for disorder have been contested in each of the last two years;
	(2)  how much money has been raised from the collection of fixed penalty notices for disorder in each of the last two years; and how much money is expected to be raised from them over the next two years;
	(3)  how many fixed penalty notices for disorder offences have been issued in the past two years; and what total cash value they represent.

Hazel Blears: In 2004 there were 63,639 Penalty Notices for Disorder issued representing a total cash value of 4.1 million. Of these, 33,078 penalty notices were paid with a total cash value of 2.1 million. 360 penalty notices were contested during this period.
	In addition, penalty notices that are not paid in full are registered at the magistrates court and are then issued as fines at 150 per cent. of the original value of the notice. In 2004 28,180 penalty notices were re-issued in this way. Information on the amount raised by these is not collected. Research indicates that the overall payment rate for all notices including those paid initially and those re-issued as fines is around 7075 per cent. Provisional data from January to September 2005 shows there were 97,684 Penalty Notices for Disorder issued representing a total cash value of 7.7 million.
	Of these, 50,963 penalty notices were paid with a total cash value of 4.0 million. 1,216 penalty notices were contested during this period. In addition, 41,547 unpaid penalty notices were registered at the courts to be re-issued as fines, at 150 per cent. of the original value, but information on the amount raised by these is not collected.

Domestic Abuse

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress police forces in England and Wales are making in tackling crimes related to domestic abuse.

Hazel Blears: The Police Performance Framework Assessment Framework includes a Statutory Performance Indicator for the domestic violence arrest rate among police forces in England and Wales. Overall, the domestic violence arrest rate national average demonstrated improvement: from 59.3 per cent. in 200304 to 64.4 per cent. in 200405a 5 per cent. increase.
	ACPO guidance on responding to and investigating domestic violence is now being implemented in police forces in England and Wales. In addition to this, every police force in England and Wales now has a Domestic Violence Co-ordinator; every new police recruit has mandatory training on domestic violence as part of their basic training; and there is extensive training for every frontline officer in England and Wales being rolled out between 2005 and 2008.

Drug Treatment Programmes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each of the 10 most deprived constituencies in England and Wales have undertaken drug treatment programmes.

Caroline Flint: Deprivation data is available by local authority (LA) but not be constituency. Using the six district level summary measures of the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 the table takes the top 10 most deprived LAs from each of the six measures to identify a list of 22. Some LAs are included only in one measure, and no single summary measure is favoured over another.
	The table uses the latest numbers in treatment from drug action teams (DAT) for 200405 taken from the national drug monitoring system.
	
		
			 Deprived LA fin alphabetical order) Number in treatment in 200405 
		
		
			 Birmingham 4,462 
			 Blackpool 1,406 
			 Bradford 3,267 
			 Easington (5) 
			 Hackney 1,180 
			 Haringey 1,022 
			 Islington 1,495 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1,389 
			 Knowsley 821 
			 Leeds 3,627 
			 Liverpool 3,738 
			 Manchester 3,374 
			 Middlesbrough 1,157 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1,425 
			 Newham 859 
			 Nottingham 1,702 
			 Salford 1,553 
			 Sheffield 1,932 
			 Sunderland 758 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,204 
			 Wigan 1,525 
			 Wirral 2,464 
		
	
	(5)No numbers availableEasington Primary Care Trust does not have a DAT of the same name. County Durham is the local DAT for Easington, where the numbers in treatment for 200405 was 1,204.

Identity Cards

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from individuals and organisations in Warley constituency on identity cards.

Andy Burnham: The identity cards programme has received six representations from individuals in the Warley constituency since 2001 regarding the ID cards scheme. Of those received, two were opposed and four were in support of the scheme. The programme has not received representations from any organisations identifying themselves as located within the Warley constituency.

Life Expectancy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has evaluated on the impact of burglary on elderly victims; and whether this included research on the impact on life expectancy.

Fiona Mactaggart: In 2003, two studies were completed that dealt with the impact of burglary on older victims: Experiences of older burglary victims and Distraction burglary amongst older adults and minority ethnic communities. Both provide some evidence of the impact these crimes can have on the health and quality of life of older people.
	As partnership working is vital to combat this particularly distasteful crime, a development and practice report was also published in 2003, Older victims of burglary and distraction burglaryrecommendations for practitioners, drew from the research in the findings report to give guidance to practitioners who work with older and vulnerable groups. Police, local authorities, voluntary groups and other relevant agencies are increasingly working together to address and reduce victimisation of the more vulnerable members of society.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which core services will be delivered only by public sector (a) prisons and (b) probation staff under the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: In the five year strategy for protecting the public and reducing re-offending, the Government sets out plans for a phased programme of contestability for Prison and Probation services.
	This will build on what we have already done in the prison estate and take into account our primary aims of protecting the public and reducing re-offending. Our programme will be published in a prospectus in the spring which will outline the time table and areas of service in which we will introduce contestability. Legislation will be brought forward when parliamentary time permits.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which services under the National Offender Management Service will be (a) tendered for and (b) subject to contestability exercises.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government has stated its intention to publish, later this year, a Contestability Prospectus which will specify the type of contracts available. Decisions have yet to be taken on the details of this prospectus.

Police

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officers in each force are (a) black and ethnic minority and (b) women; what proportion of the population in each police force area are (i) black and ethnic minority and (ii) women; what targets each police force has for the proportion of its officers who are (A) black and ethnic minority and (B) women; and how many otherwise suitable recruits in each police force have been turned down because they would not contribute to the achievement of those targets.

Hazel Blears: The data requested is available from the 'Police Service Strength publication as at 31st March 2005'. This report was published on 25 July 2005 and is available in the Library of the House and on: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1205.pdf
	There are currently no national targets for gender. The Home Secretary's Race Equality Employment Targets, milestone report 2004 sets out the force targets for black and minority ethnic recruitment. This is available in the House of Commons Library and on: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/staff-equality-targets Information is not available centrally on forces' handling of applications.

Police

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many basic command units there are in England and Wales; and what the (a) name and (b) location is of each.

Hazel Blears: Data produced in April 2005 shows a total of 245 Basic Command Units. The names and location of each of these units is set out in the table. However, in light of the proposed provision in the Police and Justice Bill which will require BCUs to be co-terminous with local authority boundaries, many forces have reviewed their BCU boundaries. The 2006 boundary data are still being produced and will be available at the beginning of April 2006.
	
		
			 Basic Command Unit Name  
		
		
			 Bath and North-East Somerset Avon and Somerset 
			 Bristol Avon and Somerset 
			 North Somerset Avon and Somerset 
			 Somerset East Avon and Somerset 
			 Somerset West Avon and Somerset 
			 South Gloucester Avon and Somerset 
			 Bedford Bedfordshire 
			 Dunstable Bedfordshire 
			 Luton Bedfordshire 
			 Cambridgeshire Central Cambridgeshire 
			 Cambridgeshire Northern Cambridgeshire 
			 Cambridgeshire Southern Cambridgeshire 
			 Eastern Cheshire 
			 Northern Cheshire 
			 Western Cheshire 
			 Bishopsgate City 
			 Snowhill City 
			 Hartlepool Cleveland 
			 Langbaurgh Cleveland 
			 Middlesbrough Cleveland 
			 Stockton Cleveland 
			 Barrow and Kendal Cumbria 
			 Carlisle and Penrith Cumbria 
			 Workington and Whitehaven Cumbria 
			 Alfreton (A Division) Derbyshire 
			 Buxton (B Division) Derbyshire 
			 Chesterfield (C Division) Derbyshire 
			 Derby (D Division) Derbyshire 
			 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly BCU Devon and Cornwall 
			 North and East Devon BCU Devon and Cornwall 
			 Plymouth BCU Devon and Cornwall 
			 South and West Devon BCU Devon and Cornwall 
			 Bournemouth Dorset 
			 Dorset (Eastern) Dorset 
			 Dorset (Western) Dorset 
			 Poole Dorset 
			 North Division Durham 
			 South Division Durham 
			 Carmarthenshire Dyfed-Powys 
			 Ceredigion Dyfed-Powys 
			 Pembrokeshire Dyfed-Powys 
			 Powys Dyfed-Powys 
			 Basildon Essex 
			 Braintree Essex 
			 Chelmsford Essex 
			 Colchester Essex 
			 Harlow Essex 
			 Rayleigh Essex 
			 Southend Essex 
			 Tendring Essex 
			 Thurrock Essex 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Gloucestershire 
			 Cotswold and Stroud Gloucestershire 
			 Forest and Gloucester Gloucestershire 
			 Bolton GMP 
			 Bury GMP 
			 Metropolitan GMP 
			 North Manchester GMP 
			 Oldham GMP 
			 Rochdale GMP 
			 Salford GMP 
			 South Manchester GMP 
			 Stockport GMP 
			 Tameside GMP 
			 Trafford GMP 
			 Wigan GMP 
			 Caerphillyand Blaenau Gwent Gwent 
			 Newport Gwent 
			 Pontypool Gwent 
			 Basingstoke Hampshire 
			 Central Hampshire Hampshire 
			 Havant Hampshire 
			 Isle of Wight Hampshire 
			 New Forest Hampshire 
			 North East Hampshire Hampshire 
			 Portsmouth Hampshire 
			 Solent East Hampshire 
			 Southampton Hampshire 
			 West Hants Hampshire 
			 Hertfordshire (Central) Hertfordshire 
			 Hertfordshire (Eastern) Hertfordshire 
			 Hertfordshire (Western) Hertfordshire 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Humberside 
			 Kingston upon Hull Humberside 
			 North Lincolnshire Humberside 
			 North-East Lincolnshire Humberside 
			 Canterbury Kent 
			 Maidstone Kent 
			 Medway Kent 
			 North Kent Kent 
			 South-East Kent Kent 
			 Swale Kent 
			 Thanet Kent 
			 Weald (Kent) Kent 
			 West Kent Kent 
			 Lancashire Central Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Eastern Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Northern Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Pennine Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Southern Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Western Lancashire 
			 Leicestershire (East Area) Leicestershire 
			 Leicestershire (North Area) Leicestershire 
			 Leicestershire (West Area) Leicestershire 
			 Leicestershire Central Leicestershire 
			 East Lincolnshire Lincolnshire 
			 South Lincolnshire Lincolnshire 
			 West Lincolnshire Lincolnshire 
			 Knowsley Merseyside 
			 Liverpool North Merseyside 
			 Liverpool South Merseyside 
			 Sefton Merseyside 
			 St. Helens Merseyside 
			 Wirral Merseyside 
			 Barking and Dagenham Metropolitan 
			 Barnet Metropolitan 
			 Bexley Metropolitan 
			 Brent Metropolitan 
			 Bromley and Orpington Metropolitan 
			 Camden Metropolitan 
			 Croydon Metropolitan 
			 Ealing Metropolitan 
			 Enfield Metropolitan 
			 Greenwich Metropolitan 
			 Hackney Metropolitan 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Metropolitan 
			 Haringey Metropolitan 
			 Harrow Metropolitan 
			 Havering Metropolitan 
			 Hillingdon Metropolitan 
			 Hounslow Metropolitan 
			 Islington Metropolitan 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Metropolitan 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames Metropolitan 
			 Lambeth Metropolitan 
			 Lewisham Metropolitan 
			 Merton Metropolitan 
			 Newham Metropolitan 
			 Redbridge Metropolitan 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames Metropolitan 
			 Southwark Metropolitan 
			 Sutton Metropolitan 
			 Tower Hamlets Metropolitan 
			 Waltham Forest Metropolitan 
			 Wandsworth Metropolitan 
			 Westminster Metropolitan 
			 Norfolk Central / Southern Area Norfolk 
			 Norfolk Eastern Area Norfolk 
			 Norfolk Western Area Norfolk 
			 North WalesCentral North Wales 
			 North WalesEastern North Wales 
			 North WalesWestern North Wales 
			 North YorksCentral North Yorkshire 
			 North YorksEastern North Yorkshire 
			 North YorksWestern North Yorkshire 
			 Northampton Northamptonshire 
			 Northamptonshire Eastern Northamptonshire 
			 Northamptonshire Northern Northamptonshire 
			 Northamptonshire Western Northamptonshire 
			 Gateshead Northumbria 
			 Newcastle Northumbria 
			 North Tyneside Northumbria 
			 Northumberland Northumbria 
			 South Tyneside Northumbria 
			 Sunderland Northumbria 
			 Bassetlaw/Newark and Sherwood Nottinghamshire 
			 Mansfield/Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire 
			 Nottingham Nottinghamshire 
			 South Notts Nottinghamshire 
			 Bridgend South Wales 
			 Cardiff South Wales 
			 Merthyr Tydfil South Wales 
			 Neath and Port Talbot South Wales 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff South Wales 
			 Swansea South Wales 
			 Vale of Glamorgan South Wales 
			 Barnsley South Yorkshire 
			 Doncaster South Yorkshire 
			 Rotherham South Yorkshire 
			 Sheffield Central South Yorkshire 
			 Sheffield North South Yorkshire 
			 Sheffield South South Yorkshire 
			 Chase Staffordshire 
			 North Staffordshire Staffordshire 
			 Stoke on Trent Staffordshire 
			 Trent Valley Staffordshire 
			 Suffolk Eastern Suffolk 
			 Suffolk Southern Suffolk 
			 Suffolk Western Suffolk 
			 East Surrey Surrey 
			 North Surrey Surrey 
			 North West Surrey Surrey 
			 West Surrey Surrey 
			 Brighton and Hove Sussex 
			 East Downs Sussex 
			 Hastings and Rother Sussex 
			 North Downs Sussex 
			 West Downs Sussex 
			 Berkshire East Thames Valley 
			 Berkshire West Thames Valley 
			 Buckinghamshire Thames Valley 
			 Milton Keynes Thames Valley 
			 Oxfordshire Thames Valley 
			 Warwickshire Northern Warwickshire 
			 Warwickshire Southern Warwickshire 
			 Hereford West Mercia 
			 North Worcestershire West Mercia 
			 Shropshire West Mercia 
			 South Worcestershire West Mercia 
			 Telford West Mercia 
			 Erdington / Aston / Nechells / Sal West Midlands 
			 Sutton Coldfield/ Castle Vale / Ki West Midlands 
			 Stechford / Shard End / Bordesley West Midlands 
			 Bournville / Bartley Green / Longb West Midlands 
			 Bournville / Bartley Green / Longb West Midlands 
			 Kings Heath / Billesley / Kings No West Midlands 
			 Acocks Green / Sparkhill / Sparkbr West Midlands 
			 Central Birmingham West Midlands 
			 Soho / Winson Green / Harbourne / West Midlands 
			 Soho / Handsworth / Sandwell / Per West Midlands 
			 Wolverhampton Town Centre / Wolver West Midlands 
			 Wednesfield / Bilston West Midlands 
			 Walsall North and South / Walsall West Midlands 
			 Willenhall / Bloxwich / Brownhills West Midlands 
			 Brierley Hill / Dudley / Sedgeley West Midlands 
			 Halesowen / Stourbridge / Lye/Crad West Midlands 
			 West Bromwich / Wednesbury / Tipto West Midlands 
			 Smethwick / Oldbury / Old Hill / L West Midlands 
			 Solihull / Chelmsley Wood / Shirle West Midlands 
			 Coundon / Hillfields / Tile Hill / West Midlands 
			 Fletchamstead / Stivichall / Wille West Midlands 
			 Radford / Foleshill / Bell Green / West Midlands 
			 Bradford North West Yorkshire 
			 Bradford South West Yorkshire 
			 Calderdale West Yorkshire 
			 Chapeltown West Yorkshire 
			 City and Holbeck West Yorkshire 
			 Keighley West Yorkshire 
			 Killingbeck West Yorkshire 
			 Kirklees West Yorkshire 
			 Pudsey and Weetwood West Yorkshire 
			 Wakefield West Yorkshire 
			 Chippenham (C) Wiltshire 
			 Salisbury (A) Wiltshire 
			 Swindon (D) Wiltshire

Police

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level the reformed basic command units will be placed in two-tier local government areas under the Government's reforms.

Hazel Blears: The Police and Justice Bill proposes to put the basic command units (BCUs) on a statutory footing and requires their boundaries to be aligned with those of local authorities. They will continue to cover a small geographical area within a force such as a town or district. In some two-tier areas, many district councils are too small to constitute a single BCU. It would therefore be possible to brigade two or more district councils to form one BCU. This would be a matter for chief constables following consultation with key partners, such as local authorities, in crime and disorder reduction partnerships and in local criminal justice boards.

Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps a complainant can take who is not satisfied by the response of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Hazel Blears: The IPCC is an independent body. If a complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the IPCC's investigation into their complaint, independent legal advice will need to be sought, as its decisions on cases can only be overturned through the courts.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from (a) the Association of Chief Police Officers, (b) the Police Federation, (c) police authorities and (d) individual police officers on the proposed restructuring of police forces; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: ACPO, the APA and the Police Federation have been closely involved in the review of police structures including discussions on particular aspects such as finance, HR and governance. Chief Officers and police authorities have been encouraged to consult with officers and staff on the options for their force area.

Police

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will provide additional resources to equalise the impact on the police precepts in each of the four police authority areas in Wales in theevent of the establishment of a single Welsh police force;
	(2)  what arrangements he plans to put in place to tackle the potential for unequal impacts on the police precepts in different authorities in Wales following the establishment of a single Welsh police force.

Hazel Blears: A working group led by my Department with participation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Welsh Assembly Government, HM Treasury and police representative bodies has been established to examine the financial aspects of reorganisation, including the impact of restructuring on finance, including precept.

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the responses he received from police authorities before 23 December 2005 would permit a voluntary merger of forces.

Hazel Blears: Subsequently, Cumbria and Lancashire police authorities requested that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary make the necessary alterations to allow their two force areas to amalgamate into one new strategic force area, as announced by the Home Secretary on 3 March 2006.

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer to the hon. Member for Witney of 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 1426, whether he will use his powers to initiate amalgamations of police forces against the wishes of the police authorities concerned.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend The Home Secretary announced his intention to initiate amalgamations for Cheshire and Merseyside, and forces in the North East, West Midlands and Wales on 3 March 2006.

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer to the hon. Member for Witney of 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 1426, whether he is actively considering the case for federating police forces as an alternative to amalgamations.

Hazel Blears: Where federation has been proposed as an alternative to strategic forces, it has been given due consideration. As yet, no compelling case has been made for such an option to proceed.

Probation Services

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the coterminosity of probation areas with (a) police basic command units, (b) local authorities, (c) Crown Prosecution Service areas and (d) magistrates' courts areas of jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The existing 42 probation areas are co-terminous with police forces, Crown prosecution and court areas. We are considering how future structures for probation can best preserve the important principle of coterminosity, taking account of police force restructuring and structures in the wider criminal justice system.

Probation Services

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to start the consultation process on the amalgamation of probation areas.

Fiona Mactaggart: I am considering the options for probation trust boundaries, which will be informed by police force restructuring.

Probation Services

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are contained in the National Offender Management Service's five year strategy for the introduction of outside suppliers of probation services; what the planned (a) budget and (b) timetable is for the introduction of such suppliers; and whether he plans to introduce such suppliers without primary legislation.

Fiona Mactaggart: In the five year strategy for protecting the public and reducing re-offending, the Government sets out plans for a phased programme of contestability for prison and probation servicesputting particular services out to tender. This will build on what we have already done in the prison estate and take into account our primary aims of protecting the public and reducing re-offending.
	Our programme will be published in a prospectus in the spring which will outline the time table and areas of service in which we will introduce contestability. Legislation will be brought forward when parliamentary time permits. Decisions have yet to be taken on the full details of that legislation.

Probation Services

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received to the consultation paper, Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-Offending; and how many expressed (a) objections to and (b) reservations about its proposals.

Fiona Mactaggart: We have received 748 responses to the consultation on Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending. We will be publishing a summary of all the responses and the key issues raised, and expect to do so within the timescale set out in the Cabinet Office guidelines on public consultations

Spray Paints

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise the age for buying spray paints to 18 years.

Hazel Blears: The Government are keen to improve the accountability between the police, local authorities and other service providers and the public. The Community Call for Action provisions contained in the Police and Justice Bill will give more power to local communities and provide a mechanism for local communities to demand a response from agencies to persistent local community safety or antisocial behaviour problems, via an approach to their ward councillor. The Respect programme will ensure effective dialogue between local people and services by introducing regular and systematic face the people briefing sessions, involving senior representation from the police and local authorities. These sessions will provide a further opportunity for communities to make clear their priorities and to hold those responsible for service delivery to account.
	They will also allow senior staff to engage the community in tackling local problems, raising issues where they can take action to help combat antisocial behaviour, including graffiti. In addition to this, the Home Office, in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is developing a new three digit single non-emergency number to provide the public direct access to community safety advice, information and action to tackle antisocial behaviour, including graffiti. The Government's commitment towards neighbourhood policing will benefit every area by 2008, enabling graffiti to be tackled as a priority when local communities identify this as one of their key concerns.

Student Visas

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the arrangements will be for the points system proposed to replace the current overseas student visa system.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office command paper A Points-Based System: Making Migration Work for Britain was published on 7 March 2006 and is available on the IND website (www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk). This detailed our plans for a point-based system to replace all current routes for migrants wishing to enter the UK to work, train or study. The new system will be introduced in a phased manner and we will be testing the processes that underpin the proposals before any firm implementation dates are announced.

Thames Valley Criminal Justice Board

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were brought to justice in the Thames Valley Criminal Justice Board area in each 12 month period since 31 March 2002; how many and what proportion of those cases were brought to justice as a result of (a) conviction, (b) caution, (c) fixed penalty notice and (d) offences taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures for the number of offences brought to justice in the Thames Valley Criminal Justice Board Area are shown in the following table. These are a further breakdown of the published figures which are a count of offences rather than offenders.
	
		Number of offences brought to justice over a 12-month period by outcome in Thames Valley200102 to 200405
		
			 12 months ending March Offences taken into consideration(6) Penalty notices for disorder(7) Formal warnings for cannabis possession(8) Cautions(9) Convictions Total OBTJ 
		
		
			 Offences brought to justice (OBTJ)
			 2002 6,969 (10) (10) 5,529 18,516 31,014 
			 2003 7,804 (11) (10) 6,888 19,786 34,478 
			 2004 5,724 (11) (10) 7,119 19,325 32,168 
			 2005(10) 8,700 1,740 2,232 11,768 17,688 42,128 
			
			 Percentage of all offences brought to justice
			 2002 22 (10) (10) 18 60 100 
			 2003 23 (11) (10) 20 57 100 
			 2004 18 (11) (10) 22 60  
			 2005(12) 21 4 5 28 42 100 
		
	
	(6)Offences taken into consideration by the court and previously recorded by the police; figures for April 2004 onwards include offences not previously recorded.
	(7)Piloted in 2002 and introduced nationally in 2004.
	(8)Introduced in April 2004.
	(9)Includes reprimands and final warnings for juveniles.
	(10)Not applicable.
	(11)Nil.
	(12)Provisional.

Trophy Videos (Iraq)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) reports and (b) complaints the Government has received about trophy videos posted on the internet showing private security contractors shooting Iraqi civilians; what investigations the Government have conducted into whether employees of a UK company were involved; whether anyone involved in the crime may be prosecuted in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of letters on this subject from members of the public but has received no official complaints about these allegations. The Government take this issue very seriously and have expressed their concern to the company involved, Aegis, as soon as we were aware of the videos.
	The UK Government have no contracts in Iraq with Aegis and therefore have not conducted a formal investigation into the alleged incidents. Aegis have kept us informed of their own investigation, which is soon to be concluded. They have co-operated in their investigation with their US Government employers, the US Defence Department. At present, there is no UK legislation specifically governing the overseas operations of Private Military Security Companies registered in or operating from the UK. This has been reviewed and we are considering the way forward. The Government will keep Parliament fully informed of their proposals in this area.

Vandalism

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of vandalism were reported in (a) Suffolk and (b) England in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is given in the following table. Offences of vandalism are recorded within the criminal damage group classification.
	
		Recorded offences of criminal damage
		
			  Suffolk England 
		
		
			 1997 (13)7,835 (13)822,029 
			 199899 (13)7,898 (13)823,520 
			 19992000 (13)9,547 (13)890,756 
			 200001 (13)10,150 (13)906,800 
			 200102 (13)12,095 (13)1,007,634 
			 200203 (14)11,497 (14)1,043,197 
			 200304 (14)12,817 (14)1,139,308 
			 200405 (14)12,781 (14)1,119,636 
		
	
	(13)Numbers affected by changes in the counting rules and expanded coverage of recorded crime. Data not comparable with earlier years.
	(14)Numbers affected by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards which came into effect in 200203. Data not comparable with earlier years.

Women in Custody

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when an announcement will be made of the outcome of the inquiry into the treatment of vulnerable women in custody.

Fiona Mactaggart: Baroness Scotland expects to make a statement about who will conduct this review, aspects of its methodology, its timetable and terms of reference within a few weeks. I anticipate that the review will be completed by the end of 2006.

Young Offenders

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to rehabilitate young offenders while in custody; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Detention and Training Order (DTO), which is the principal sentence for those young people under 18 whom the courts decide need to be sentenced to custody, is specifically designed to promote rehabilitation. The order is in two parts, the first spent in custody and the second under supervision in the community.
	It is intended that work begun during the first partfor example on education and trainingshould form the basis for continued development when the young person returns to the community. Youth offending teams (YOTs) are involved in sentence planning throughout the whole of the order and supervise the young person during the community part. The Youth Justice Board is committed to giving young people in custody the opportunity to turn away from offending and to acquire the learning and skills that will help them towards a more positive future.
	The board, which has invested on a large scale in educational facilities for young people in custody, is working to the following targets for young people in custody: all young people entering secure facilities will have a training plan developed and subsequently reviewed in accordance with the National Standards for Youth Justice Services; all young people will be assessed by a clinician on reception for vulnerability and substance misuse; all young people entering secure facilities will be tested for literacy and numeracy, with 80 per cent. of young people on DTOs of six months or more improving by one skill level or more in literacy and/or numeracy, to the level of need set out in their individual learning plan; in 200506, 90 per cent. of young people will receive 30 hours a week of education, training, and personal development activity compliant with the National Specification for Learning and Skills.
	For young people in young offender institutions (YOIs), the expected performance will be 25 hours. Additionally, YOIs will ensure that attendance rates for timetabled education and training sessions do not fall below 90 per cent.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biofuel

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government support for those growing biofuel plants.

Jim Knight: Farmers can receive the single payment for oilseed rape and wheat grown on set-aside land under a biofuel contract. The EU's Energy Aid payment can be claimed where these annual crops are grown on non set-aside land. Sugar beet will soon be eligible to receive the same support.

Emissions Trading

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in incorporating aviation in the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Margaret Beckett: We took this forward as one of the priorities of our presidency of the EU Environment Council. There it was agreed that inclusion of aviation seemed to be the best way forward. We are actively involved in the Commission's Aviation Working Group, which is considering how aviation can be included in the EU ETS. The results of which, will feed into a legislative proposal which we expect the Commission to produce by the end of this year.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Research

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Natural Environment Research Council following its decision to close the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology research facilities last year.

Elliot Morley: Since the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) published for consultation its proposals for the future of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Defra officials have had discussions with CEH primarily focusing on the implications of the proposals for the delivery of Defra contracts. The Defra Chief Scientific Adviser attended a NERC Council meeting on the 2 February at which CEH was discussed, and Defra has submitted a response to the NERC consultation.

Climate Change

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting climate change targets.

Margaret Beckett: The UK expects to exceed by about 7 percentage points its Kyoto protocol commitment to reduce the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 200812. The UK is committed to moving beyond our Kyoto protocol target and towards our national goal to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

Climate Change

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Scotland's contribution to the UK's international climate change targets.

Margaret Beckett: I understand that Scotland will be publishing its revised climate change programme shortly.

EU Funding

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department received from the EU in 200405; how much was paid to farmers in each category of payment; how much was used for administration; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In 200405 the department's income from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) was 2.5 billion, its expenditure under schemes wholly or partly funded by EAGGF was 2.9billion and the total administration costs of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was 249 million. In addition, the department reclaimed 0.8 billion on behalf of the other UK CAP Paying Agencies. Full details are available in RPA's 200405 accounts (HC82), presented to Parliament in July 2005.
	Defra's Fisheries Directorate received three amounts from the EU. 1.4 million was received under Data Collection Regulations (EU Regulations 1543/2000, 1639/2001 and 1581/2004) for the funding of scientific work, such as surveys carried out at sea and biological sampling. Under an EU Aid scheme in which all Member States can apply for funding towards their fisheries enforcement control programmes (Commission Decision 2004/465/EC as amended) the Marine Fisheries Agency (formally the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate) received 0.6 million. Under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) Defra received 6.2 million.
	Defra's EU  International Agriculture Division received 296,000 to cover the costs of an EU twinning project.
	Defra's Animal Health and Welfare Directorate General received a payment of 286,885 in respect of Classical Swine Fever. Additionally, while not received in the financial year 200405, included in the Department's 200405 Accounts is an accrued sum of 4,367,441 income from the EU Veterinary Fund as contribution towards the cost of genotyping blood samples for the National Scrapie Plan, the actual funding of which was received in 200506.

Expert Advisers

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2379W, on expert advisers, how her Department satisfies itself that the evidence provided by the candidate is appropriate to the post; whether applicants have to declare their interests in writing; and if she will institute a system by which the Department makes an independent record of declarations of conflicts of interest given at the end of papers published in scientific journals by applicants.

Jim Knight: All candidates for membership of Defra's statutory advisory bodies are appointed through the full Office of the Commissioner for Public Affairs (Nolan) process. The process demands that candidates notify the Department of any conflicts of interest in their application form. The appointment process is overseen by an independent assessor. The appointing panel has to make a judgment that the evidence provided by the candidate together with supporting references is appropriate to the post.

Genetic Use Restriction Technologies

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the dates of meetings attended by (a) Ministers and (b) officials of her Department at which varietal genetic use restriction technologies were discussed since 1 January 2005; and with whom each meeting was held.

Elliot Morley: Varietal genetic use restriction technologies were discussed recently at a meeting which my hon. friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity held with a number of representatives of non-governmental organisations on 15 February 2006.
	These technologies are a subject which has arisen several times in meetings attended both by Ministers and officials of this Department since 1 January 2005. Unfortunately, however, no records are kept which would allow the compilation of a definitive and comprehensive list of all the meetings attended by Ministers and officials at which these technologies were discussed since that date.

GM Crops

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received regarding GM crops, with particular reference to the developing world.

Elliot Morley: My ministerial colleagues and I receive regular representations from a wide variety of stakeholders on a on a broad range of issues related to GM crops and their possible cultivation in the UK.
	With regard to the Government's policy on the use of GM crops in developing countries, this is a matter formy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development.

Illegal Logging

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Prime Minister plans to discuss illegal logging during his visit to Indonesia; and what measures he plans to take to tackle illegal logging.

Elliot Morley: Details of the Prime Minister's visits will be announced in due course by the Official Spokesman.
	The UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia in 2002 that commits both countries to work together to tackle illegal logging and the associated trade. DFID also supports the Multistakeholder Forestry Programme in Indonesia that, among other things, supports efforts to improve forest governance.
	The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation was adopted by EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in December 2005. This will allow the EU to enter into agreements with timber-producing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU. The licensing scheme will be reinforced by powers for Customs to prevent the import of unlicensed timber.
	A FLEGT Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and the EU would help fulfil the commitments under the Indonesia-UK MoU on Illegal Logging. The UK is working with Indonesia, other EU Member States and the European Commission towards this.

Modification Orders

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what average length of time local authorities in England took to make rights of way modification orders in 200405; how many orders (a) Gloucestershire, (b) Herefordshire and (c) Worcestershire have outstanding; and what percentage of orders were successful.

Jim Knight: Local highway authorities are responsible for the management of rights of way and therefore all information relating to modification orders is held by them and not central Government. The information on the length of time for local authorities in England to make modification orders and the percentage of successful orders could only be gathered at a disproportionate cost. Under schedule 5 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 surveying authorities had to establish a register of definitive map modification order applications by 31 December 2005. Gloucestershire has 105 outstanding applications, Herefordshire 100 and Worcestershire 119.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which the advisory committee on pesticides has complied with the guidelines on scientific analysis in policy making from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser in its consideration of the impact of pesticide use on bystanders.

Elliot Morley: Ministers believe that the Advisory Committee on Pesticides has adhered to the relevant provisions within the Chief Scientific Advisers guidelines in all areas of its work.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the margins of safety allowed for in the risk assessment of pesticides are sufficient to protect the foetus.

Elliot Morley: In order for a pesticide to gain approval in the United Kingdom an extensive range of toxicological tests must be performed. These tests incorporate an extensive group of rigorous study protocols to address the health issues that have been shown to be relevant to pesticide exposure such as issues of acute and chronic toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, reproductive effects, developmental (foetal) toxicity and others. Reference doses for acceptable human exposures to pesticides are derived by applying assessment (safety) factors to the dose that produces no adverse effects in the most sensitive, relevant animal study. The factor is normally 100, made up of 10 fold for the assumption that humans are more sensitive than the most sensitive animal species tested, and 10 fold for sub-populations of humans (including the foetus) that may be more sensitive than the norm. There will always be a minimum 'safety' margin of 100 between a dose causing no effects on the foetus in animal studies and the acceptable human exposure to a pesticide. This approach is in line with risk assessment practices for chemicals both nationally and internationally.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will rename the Advisory Committee on Pesticides as the Advisory Committee on Pest Management and make the appropriate consequent changes to its remit.

Elliot Morley: The Advisory Committee on Pesticides was established in accordance with Section 16(7) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. This sets out its terms of reference as follows;
	'to give them [Ministers] advice, either when requested to do so or otherwise, on any matters relating to the control of pests in furthering the general purposes of this Act.'
	The Control of Pesticides (Advisory Committee on Pesticides) Order 1985 established and named the Committee. There are no plans at this time to change either the name or the remit of this Committee.

Queen's Birthday

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to celebrate Her Majesty's 80th birthday; what advice she has issued to her Department's executive agencies on celebrations for the birthday; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport sent a letter to each Department at the beginning of January listing dates that the Union Jack is to be flown. These included Her Majesty's actual birthday. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) proposes to fly a flag at 55 Whitehall, London, in honour of the occasion.
	Defra also proposes to plant a tree in its nature reserve in Wales or at Watchtree Nature Reserve in Cumbria.
	We are not aware of any other centrally organised events to celebrate the Queen's actual birthday.

Radioactive Fallout (Chernobyl)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what compensation is provided for farmers on farms contaminated by radioactive fallout from Chernobyl who cannot move or sell their sheep for human consumption.

Jim Knight: On farms under restriction as a result of the Chernobyl incident all sheep are monitored for contamination before being permitted to enter the food chain. Farmers receive 1.30 per head each time an animal is monitored.
	Animals which fail the monitoring process cannot be sold for human consumption.

Radioactive Fallout (Chernobyl)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl on the market value of the farms where restrictions still apply; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: My Department is not aware of any assessment on the effect of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl on the market value of the farms where restrictions still apply.

Rights of Way

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims for a right of way for mechanically propelled vehicles on byways were outstanding on (a) 19 December 2003 and (b) 19 May 2005.

Jim Knight: The figures Defra has compiled from information provided by local authorities tell us that there were 497 applications for Byways Open to all Traffic (BOATS) outstanding at 9 December 2003 and 992 applications for BOATS outstanding at 19 May 2005.

Risk Assessment

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will take steps to create a tool to allow advisory committees to deal consistently with risk assessment.

Ben Bradshaw: We are fully in support of the development of more systematic tools to enable better risk assessment. We are encouraging academia to come forward with innovative ideas for dealing with risk and uncertainty as instanced by a recent call, supported by DEFRA by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for research proposals 1 . These new tools will take some time to develop and we have to note the caution expressed by the Treasury that risk assessment methodologies can be highly specialised and specific to the nature of the risk 2 . Thus advisory committees have to work with the risk assessment methodologies that pertain to their particular risk portfolios which may not be tractable to any single systematic tool.
	1 Scientific Uncertainty and Decision Making for Regulatory and Risk Assessment Purposes Sandpit on January 2006, Shrigley Hall, Pott Shrigley, nr Macclesfield
	The assessment and decision making processes within environmental, health, food and engineering sectors pose numerous challenges. Uncertainty is a fundamental characteristic of these problems. How do we account for all the uncertainties in the complex models and analyses that inform decision makers? How can those uncertainties be communicated simply but qualitatively to decision makers? How should decision makers use those uncertainties when combining the scientific evidence with more socio-economic considerations? And how can decisions be communicated so that the proper acknowledgement of uncertainty is transparent?
	2 ht1p://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/3E3/EE/managingrisks_ appraisal220705.pdf

Special Protection Areas

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2006, Official Report, column1359W, on special protection areas, if she will list the sites that (a) her Department has designated and (b) English Nature has recommended as special protection areas.

Jim Knight: There are currently 77 classified Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England and additionally, one cross-border SPA with Scotland and two cross-border SPAs with Wales, all of which have been recommended by English Nature. Further information on the individual sites is available from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's website (http://www.jncc.gov.uk.).
	There are currently two sites which English Nature has recommended should be classified as SPAs, which are currently under consideration by Defra. These are Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore, and Breckland.

Thames Gateway

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to ascertain the condition of flood defences in the Thames Gateway where this is unknown.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency (EA) is the principal operating authority for flood risk management in England and has a general supervisory duty over all matters relating to flood defence.
	The national flood and coastal defence database, which is being developed by the EA in partnership with other operating authorities, will record the location, height and condition of all flood defences in England. Iunderstand the database does not yet contain full information on Thames estuary tidal defences but that this information will be in place by the end of March 2006. The EA uses the database, together with locally held information, to prioritise a risk based rolling programme of flood defence inspection, maintenance and renewals. They estimate that 200 million will be spent on maintenance and operation of Thames estuary flood defences over the next 15 years.

Urban Green Spaces

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on the contribution of urban green spaces to the protection of ecosystems.

Jim Knight: This Government have taken forward a number of initiatives to enhance urban green space, and,in general, the quality of urban green space has improved.
	Measures to continue this trend are regularly discussed with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other departments at official level. In particular, Defra continues to promote policies to protect these spaces for their wildlife interest and to improve their wider recreation and health benefits.

Water Conservation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets have been set for (a) energy efficiency, (b) water efficiency and (c) other environmental issues since July 2003.

Elliot Morley: The information is as follows:
	(a) There are two targets in the household sector. The Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2004 included an aim to save 3.5 million tonnes of carbon from homes in England by 2010, set in accordance with the requirements of the Sustainable Energy Act 2003. The Housing Act 2004 added a further goalto take reasonable steps to improve residential energy efficiency by at least 20 per cent. by 2010, from a year 2000 baseline. In the public sector, the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate 2004 states that Government Departments are to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings on their estate by 15 per cent. by 201011, relative to 19992000.
	(b) Since 1996, all water companies in England and Wales have had a duty to promote the efficient use of water by all their customers. The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) enforce this duty and report on water company progress in the annual 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' report. In the public sector, the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate 2004 states that Government Departments should reduce water consumption in office buildings to an average of 7.7 m 3 per person per year by 31 March 2004 or 7m 3 per person per year for all new buildings and major refurbishments where design commences after 2002.
	(c) There are a number of other environmental targets for the public sector set out in the Framework on the Government estate 2004. The Framework sets operational targets to be met by central Government Departments and their Executive agencies to encourage more sustainable management of the Government's land and buildings. The Framework has a largely environmental focus and comprises nine parts (including waste, water, energy and biodiversity). Specific targets for water usage and energy efficiency are mentioned above.
	Since July 2003, specific targets have been set for biodiversity, procurement, estates management and construction and social impacts. Reports on progress against the Framework targets are published each year in the annual Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) reports. The Framework is currently being reviewed in order to deliver a step change in the way the Government sustainably manages its land and buildings (further background on this is shown in the attached annex).
	Outside the public sector Government have a range of other environmental targets. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has nine public service agreement (PSA) targets which have been agreed with the Treasury since 2003. The majority of these PSA targets relate to environmental issues and they all contribute to DEFRA's overarching aim of sustainable development. The PSA targets are published and reported on in DEFRA's current Autumn Performance Report which is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htmt#apr
	Other targets relating to environmental issues are published in DEFRA's Five Year Strategy: Delivering the Essentials of Life, which is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/5year-strategy/index.htm, and in the UK Government's Sustainable Development Strategy: Securing the Future, which is available at: http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/publications/uk-strategy/index.htm

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Services Commission

Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the decision by the LegalServices Commission to withdraw funding for access to specialist and complex legal advice in Wirral South.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission's (LSC) specialist support services provide support to front-line advice and not directly to vulnerable people in any specific part of England and Wales.
	Given the pressure on the limited legal aid budget and the number of clients needing legal advice, the LSC has concluded that the costs of this would be better redirected to fund direct legal advice in the next financial year. This will increase access to legal aid services for vulnerable people.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Extraordinary Rendition

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what co-operation British officials have provided to the United States on (a) international rendition and (b) individual terrorist suspects who have been subject to rendition.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him on 6 February 2006 by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, Official Report, columns 78485W.

Falkland Islands

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Royal Air Force personnel are based in the Falkland Islands; and how many were based there in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	The numbers of personnel posted to each location abroad are shown in Tri-Service Publication 6, Global Location of UK Regular Forces (TSP 6).
	TSP 6 is published quarterly; the most recent publication shows the numbers of Service personnel at 1 October 2005.
	Copies of TSP 6 are held in the Library of the House and are also available at www.dasa.mod.uk

Guantanamo Bay

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK officials have provided information to the US which has led to an individual being transferred to (a) Guantanamo Bay and (b) other US overseas detention facilities.

Kim Howells: holding answer 6 March 2006
	I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him on 6 February 2006, Official Report, columns 78485W, by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Guantanamo Bay

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report by the UN Commission on Human Rights on the situation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The report submitted on 15 February by five holders of mandates of special procedures of the UN Commission on Human Rights raises a number of serious concerns about the situation of detainees in Guantanamo Bay. We are aware that the US Government, by means of its Permanent Representative's letter of 31 January to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has expressed reservations about the report, and does not feel that accurate account was taken of information provided by the US Government. It is clearly important that the US Government and the UN continue to engage on this issue.
	We have made it clear that we regard the circumstances under which detainees continue to be held in Guantanamo Bay as unacceptable. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said that Guantanamo Bay is an anomaly that should come to an end sooner rather than later. The US Government are fully aware of our views.
	However, it is important to remember the circumstances which led to Guantanamo Bay. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. We remain determined to work with our allies to defeat the scourge of international terrorism.

International Arms Trade Treaty

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) funds and (b) staff the Government have allocated for the promotion of an international arms trade treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: To support our work towards an international treaty on the trade in all conventional arms, we have created the Arms Trade Unit within the Counter Proliferation Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). This unit deals with our overall policy on conventional arms exports controls, including within the EU. While the whole Unit is involved in the treaty initiative, in support of this work it has been strengthened with one additional member of staff (at First Secretary level). In addition, our ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva now acts as our roving ambassador for the treaty initiative. Furthermore, a wide range of FCO and other Government Department staff are actively engaged in pursing the initiative. In 2005 we funded a number of events to promote the treaty. We plan more such events in 2006. Additional funds have been provided for these activities and for travel, by reprioritisation within our existing budgets. As decisions are taken on specific events as our campaign evolves, it is not possible at this stage to provide an overall figure.

Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Russian authorities about the stance of the Iranian Government on uranium enrichment.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials are in frequent contact with their Russian counterparts concerning Iran's nuclear programme. Senior FCO officials met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kisylak to discuss Iran on 3 March.
	The Russian authorities share our concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. We have been working closely together to encourage Iran to address the requests of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors. Russia, like the European Union, has called on Iran to reinstate a full suspension of all uranium enrichment related and reprocessing activities, which the IAEA Board has called essential for confidence.

Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran about its use of the death penalty.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 3 March 2005, Official Report, column 102627W.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK supplies military equipment to Iran in support of its counter-narcotics operations; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: All applications to export military equipment to Iran are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and other policies taking into account the prevailing circumstances at the time.
	We will not issue an export licence if approval would be inconsistent with national embargoes observed by the UK. The then Foreign Secretary (Lord Hurd) and the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister's (Tony Lloyd) statements of 1 March 1993 and 28 September 1998 respectively, set out our approach in respect of Iran. We will not issue licences for the export to Iran of goods or technology on the Military or Nuclear List, except for goods essential for the safety of civil aircraft and air traffic control systems and certain radioactive substances for medical use. No licences will be approved for any equipment where there is knowledge or reason to suspect that it will go to a military end-user or be used for military purposes. On very rare occasions and with parliamentary agreement, exceptions are made where denying an export or gift would be against the spirit of the embargo.
	In 2005, we agreed to license a gift of 50 sets of body armour to the Iranian Counter-Narcotics border police who work with HM Revenue and Customs officers to fight the trafficking of heroin and opiates. Notice of our intention to do this was placed before Parliament for 14 sitting days in February 2005 and no objections were raised. Details of the gift were also recorded in a Written Ministerial Statement of 15 March 2005, Official Report, column 1314WS.
	We assess that around 60 per cent. of all heroin entering the UK transits Iran. Iran is actively involved in the fight against drug trafficking and seizes far more opiates than any other country in the world. We have regular constructive co-operation with Iran on counter-narcotics.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which European countries provide military equipment to Iran for use in its counter-narcotics operations; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Each EU member state applies the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports in respect of the export of all licence applications for all destinations, including Iran. Implementation of the Code is a matter for individual member states. In the case of Iran, the UK also applies a national policy, set out in the statements of the then Foreign Secretary (Lord Hurd) and the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister (Tony Lloyd), of 1 March 1993 and 28 September 1998 respectively.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions have been put in place by the EU to limit the export of arms to Iran for the purpose of counter-narcotics programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Each EU member state applies the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports in respect of the export of all licence applications for all destinations, including Iran. The Code includes provisions whereby member states will not issue export licences where there is a clear risk that the exported items might be used for internal repression, or diverted to an undesirable end-user or end-use. The Code applies to the export of strategic goods to Iran for all purposes including counter-narcotics programmes, and is set out in detail on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/internationalsecurity/defenceexportlicensing

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Iran's Government has made a political decision to acquire a nuclear weapons capability; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Iranian authorities state that they have no intention to develop nuclear weapons. But the nature of Iran's nuclear programme, its history of concealment and inadequate co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the unexplained involvement of the Iranian military in the nuclear programme, and its failure to take confidence-building steps have all contributed to international concern that the intentions of the programme may not be exclusively peaceful.
	In his most recent report, the IAEA Director-General said that the Agency was not in a position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran. He also said that this conclusion can be expected to take even longer than normal to arrive at in light of the undeclared nature of Iran's past nuclear programme, the inadequacy of information available on Iran's centrifuge enrichment programme, the existence of a generic document related to the fabrication of nuclear weapon components, and the lack of clarification of the role of the military in Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress by Iran towards uranium enrichment since its cessation of the suspension in January; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) report of 27 February notes that
	on 3 January 2006, Iran informed the Agency that it had decided to resume, as from 9 January 2006, those RD on the peaceful nuclear energy programme which had been suspended as part of its expanded voluntary and non-legally binding suspension.
	It goes on to say that
	on 11 February 2006, Iran started enrichment tests by feeding a single P-l machine with UF6 gas. At that time, other single P-l machines were ready for operation and a 10-machine cascade was undergoing vacuum tests. The feeding of the 10-machine cascade was begun on 15 February 2006, and, on 22 February 2006, a 20-machine cascade was subjected to vacuum testing.

Middle East

Celia Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Israel on ending (a) the use of occupied territories for settlements and roads and (b) the construction of the wall in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Kim Howells: Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv last raised our concerns about settlements and impact of the barrier in East Jerusalem with the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 December 2005.
	Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The Roadmap is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction including the natural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001.
	We also fully recognise Israel's right to self-defence. A barrier is a reasonable way to achieve this. But the barrier's route should be on or behind the Green Line, and not on occupied territory. Construction of the barrier on Palestinian land is illegal. The route is particularly damaging around East Jerusalem, as it risks cutting the city off from the West Bank and dividing the West Bank in two.
	We will continue to raise our concerns over the settlements and the barrier with the Israeli Government at all levels.

Ministerial Activities

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made on departmental business since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period.

Kim Howells: Between 5 May 2005 and 2 March 2006, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made 28 speeches, all available at www.fco.gov.uk. He made 32 official visits overseas incorporating 45 countries and sent 1,602 letters.

Palestinian Refugees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Government policy to recognise the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and land.

Kim Howells: The return of refugees is a final status issue. Final status issues can only be resolved through negotiations and agreement between the parties themselves. We continue to urge both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to implement their commitments under the Roadmap as the best way to get to a negotiated settlement, and to the discussion of such issues.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he is playing in providing mediation between the National Unity Government of Sudan and representatives of the Eastern Front.

Ian Pearson: The Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front, the main rebel grouping in Eastern Sudan, were scheduled to begin negotiations in Sirte, Libya, on 7 February. On 6 February, the Eastern Front announced that they would not participate in these talks. The Eastern Front are currently holding internal discussions on their position. We are in regular contact with the Eastern Front and the Government of Sudan and are pressing them to begin negotiations at the earliest opportunity.
	We continue to urge both sides to exercise restraint and to negotiate a political settlement within the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and have offered our assistance in finding a suitable venue and mediator for the talks. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, and my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Dr. Lam Akol, on 3 February and pressed Dr.Akol on the need to reach a swift agreement with the Eastern Front.

UK Citizens (Overseas Detention)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2244W, on UK citizens (overseas detention), what the (a) date of arrest, (b) place of detention and (c) detaining authority was of each of the three UK citizens held without charge abroad.

Kim Howells: Since my answer of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2244W, in which I said that we were aware of three British nationals held without charge abroad for a period of 12 months or more, I regret that I have now learnt that the figure should have been four. Two British nationals are being held in Iraq. One was detained on 9 October 2004 and is held in Shaiba Divisional Temporary Detention Facility, Basra, Iraq by the UK contingent of the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I), in accordance with the authority conferred by UN Security resolution 1546 (2004) and renewed by UN Security Council resolution 1637 (2005), which authorises the MNF-I to detain individuals where it is necessary to do so for imperative reasons of security. The other was detained on 7 December 2004 by US forces under the same legal authority and is being held in Abu Ghraib following the referral of his case to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. Two British nationals were detained on 25 June 2004 in Vietnam. They are being held by the Ministry of Public Security (Counter Narcotics Department) at Thanh Xuan Detaining Camp.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2205W, on Afghanistan, how many of the medical personnel are (a) reserves and (b) regulars.

Adam Ingram: Of the planned 280 medical staff deploying in support of Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan, 13 of them are Reservists. This includes four from the Territorial Army and nine from the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 763W, on Afghanistan, what steps he is taking to prevent warlords from gaining influence or support following efforts to eradicate opium production in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 26 January 2006, Official Report, columns 152933, the UK will support the Afghan Government's objectives by pursuing activities along governance, security, economic and social development and counter-narcotics lines. We will be seeking to support the development of provincial government and law enforcement capacity, including in Helmand province where British troops will be deployed. UK activities will include capacity building for the centrally-appointed Provincial Governor, and the Afghan National Army and Afghan national police forces. This will help to support the legitimate democratic processes, and reduce the negative influence of warlords.
	We are also supporting capacity building within national Afghan counter-narcotics law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies charged with targeting and bringing major traffickers and drugs lords to justice. Since May 2005, over 90 drug traffickers have been convicted.
	Separately on eradication, we are working with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure that eradication is properly targeted against the greedy and not the needy. The Department for International Development is spending 130 million over the three financial years to 2008 to help build more sustainable legal income-generating opportunities for the rural population. We are helping the Government of Afghanistan develop and deliver an eradication information campaign, which explains the reasons behind eradication and the detrimental effects caused by those trying to undermine the Government's efforts to tackle the opium industry.

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the basis is for his Department's policy distinction between counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations made in respect of deployments to Afghanistan; and when the distinction was formulated; and by whom.

Adam Ingram: The range of activities the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) can undertake is set out in the revised Operational Plan (OPLAN) agreed in December 2005. The OPLAN makes clear that ISAF will not undertake counter-terrorist operations, which will remain the preserve of specialised Coalition assets under Operation Enduring Freedom. ISAF's role is to help the Government of Afghanistan to extend its authority across the entire country, to help them to maintain security and to facilitate reconstruction, all of which will undermine and counter the activities of insurgents and other illegally armed groups.

Astute Class Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, columns 78W, on Astute class submarines, what the reasons are for (a) the increases in cost and (b) the delay in delivery; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The increase in costs and delay to the delivery of the Astute programme stem primarily from problems that arose from the application of Computer Aided Design (CAD) techniques. Due to the complexity of the programme, the benefits that CAD was envisaged to provide were more difficult to realise than either MOD or the contractor had assumed. These problems were addressed with the contractor and an agreement, placing incentives on the company to perform, was negotiated and a contract amendment signed on 17 December 2003.

Child Support Agency

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deductions of earnings requests were received from the Child Support Agency by each of the armed forces in the most recent three years for which figures are available; and how many requests were complied with (a) in full and (b) in part by each service.

Don Touhig: The table records the numbers of Deductions from Earnings Requests (DER) processed by the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) for Service personnel in each of the three Services for the three years 20032005.
	
		Deductions from earnings
		
			  RN Army RAF Total 
		
		
			 2003 54 1236 53 1343 
			 2004 105 1667 71 1843 
			 2005 211 1698 135 2044 
			 Total 370 4601 259 5230 
		
	
	Statistics for the number of requests that were applied in full and in part are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, DERs are only applied less than fully if to do so would reduce a Service person's pay below the established Minimum Rate of Pay. Since DERs are applied before deductions for any other reason relatively few are applied less than fully.

Child Support Agency

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria the Department used in taking the decision on how to treat Child Support Agency claims on service personnel in relation to deduction of earnings.

Don Touhig: Service personnel are not subject to deduction from earnings orders because they are already subject to deductions from earnings for a variety of reasons under other legislation. In practice, the Ministry of Defence applies deductions from earnings requests in exactly the same way as orders, subject to ensuring that such deductions do not reduce a service person's pay below the established minimum rate of pay. Deductions from pay for child maintenance are applied before any other deductions. The MOD has an understanding with the Child Support Agency for administering deductions from earnings requests.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the deployment of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory staff to Iraq has had on the work of the Laboratory in the UK.

Adam Ingram: Supporting operations, including those in Iraq, is one of DSTL's principal roles: since its formation in 2001 the laboratory has continuously supported a wide range of operations both overseas and for homeland security. This capability is based on DSTL's ability to draw on the entire organisations STbase to provide the best advice and solutions. Supporting operations is afforded a high priority, and the short-notice and fluctuating nature of the demand means that it has to be managed in consultation with DSTL's MOD customers.

Defence Vetting Agency

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve the Defence Vetting Agency's basic security check.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Vetting Agency operates within guidelines set by the Cabinet Office, and constantly seeks ways to improve the vetting process. The DVA is at the forefront of Government security vetting process and working practice improvements and is taking a strong lead in the development and introduction of e-vetting. The introduction, this year, of a suite of new scannable security application forms is a first step towards a solution to allow vetting subjects to complete and submit security clearance applications using the internet, leading to a much more efficient process.

Discharged Personnel (Social Housing)

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the ability of service personnel (a) in each service and (b) of each rank to afford (i) a mortgage and (ii) privately-rented accommodation on discharge.

Don Touhig: holding answer 6 March 2006
	The ability to afford mortgage repayments or rental chargesobviously depends on individual circumstances. Because of this, a detailed assessment of affordability by rank and service cannot be made. However, we provide an excellent pay and pension package for service personnel, together with extensive advice on housing options and an interest-free loan scheme.

Discharged Personnel (Social Housing)

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the housing needs of (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy personnel on discharge.

Don Touhig: holding answer 6 March 2006
	Housing needs are reflected in schemes such as long service advance of pay and advice provided through the Joint Services Housing Advice Office. The Defence Housing Strategy is being reviewed as part of the Defence Living Accommodation Strategy (DLAS), which provides a comprehensive approach with a focus on private housing options to meet societal changes and the smooth transition to civilian life.

Eurofighter

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the (a) reliability and (b) suitability of the computer system installed on Eurofighter jets.

Adam Ingram: The Typhoon has a substantial number of inter-linked computers, all of which are tested individually, as sub-systems, and as an entity during aircraft acceptance. The ability of the individual computer systems to provide computing power for the other systems if they malfunction means that Typhoon systems are inherently very reliable, safe, and suitable for the operation of this aircraft.

Gershon Review

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of the Gershon Review for staffing levels in the Defence Export Services Organisation.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 7 March 2006
	Staffing levels in the Defence Export Services Organisation are regularly reviewed as part of normal management procedures. Posts saved in 200506, and any further posts saved in the next two financial years, will contribute to the departmental target for civilian and military manpower reductions that was agreed in the 2004 Spending Review, following the Gershon Review of Public Sector Efficiency.

Infantry Regiments

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruitment figures for each of the Scottish infantry regiments were for each month in 2005; and how many of those who completed their training went to the regiment of their choice.

Don Touhig: holding answer 3 March 2006
	The Army does not recruit soldiers into particular regiments but instead recruit to the three infantry career employment groups (Line, Para and the Guards). While some soldier recruits specify a particular Preferred Capbadge on enlisting, infantry personnel are not recruited into or allocated a regiment until near completion of their training. Officers are allocated an arm/service/regiment during or on completion of their commission course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). Therefore the following table shows the gains to the trained strength of the six Scottish infantry regiments in each month during 2003.
	
		Trained intake of officers and soldiers into the Infantry Scottish Division during 2003
		
			 Date of flow Unspecified RS RHF KOSB BW HLDRS A  SH Total 
		
		
			 2003 
			 January 55 (15) (15) (16) (15) (15) (16) 65 
			 February (15) 5 (15) (15) (15) 5 5 25 
			 March (15) (15) 5 5 10 (16) 10 35 
			 April 50 5 5 (15) 5 (15) 5 75 
			 May 30 (15) 10 (15) (15) (15) 5 55 
			 June 5 (15) (15) (15) (16) (15) (16) 15 
			 July 10 (15) (15) (15) 10 (16) (15) 25 
			 August (15) 10 10 (15) (15) (15) 5 40 
			 September 5 10 (15) (15) 10 (16) (15) 35 
			 October 5 (15) (15) (15) (15) (15) (15) 20 
			 November 10 5 10 15 20 10 20 90 
			 December 10 5 5 5 5 5 (15) 45 
		
	
	(15)Indicates a non zero value which is less than 5.
	(16)Indicates a value of zero.
	Notes:
	1.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.
	2.Figures do not include Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), Gurkhas or Mobilised Reservists. The information relates to the flows of UK Trained Regular Army Personnel in the Scottish regiments, regardless of whether they serve away from the main body of the regiment, this does not include other arms/services attached to the regiments.
	3.Soldiers joining the infantry are not allocated to a particular regiment until completion of training at the Infantry Training Centre (Catterick). Officers are allocated a regiment on completion of their commissioning course at RMAS. Therefore the table includes those officers and soldiers who joined the Scottish regiments on completion of training. It will also include direct entries to the trained strength, such as trained re-entrants.
	4.The aforementioned figures will include those individuals who have entered the trained strength with an intake code from illegal absence, flowing either from untrained to trained or directly to trained strength. These figures may therefore appear different to other published figures.
	5.The table includes an 'Unspecified' Regiment, this is where soldiers have not yet been assigned to a specific Scots Div Infantry Regiment on their Record of Service.
	6.RSRoyal Scots , RHFRoyal Highland Fusiliers, KOSBKings Own Scottish Borderers, BWBlack Watch, HLDRSHighlanders and A  SHArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
	7.Figures exclude colonels and above.
	It is not possible to determine how many personnel went to the regiments of their choice, as this information is not held centrally on the administration system used in the production of these statistics.

Infantry Regiments

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruitment targets were for each division of infantry (a) as at 1 January 2003 and (b) in each quarterly since January 2003; and what percentage of the targets have been met.

Don Touhig: holding answer 3 March 2006
	The Army does not recruit soldiers into Infantry Divisions, but instead recruits to the three Infantry Career Employment Groups (Line, Para and the Guards). Officers are only allocated a Regiment on completion of their Commissioning Course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). Therefore recruitment figures and targets for Infantry Divisions are unavailable.
	The following table shows the gains to the trained strength of each Infantry Division for each quarter since 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005.
	
		
			 Flows during qtr Footguards Scots Div Queens Div Kings Div POW Div Light Div Para Others Total 
		
		
			 1 January to 31 March 2003 90 120 140 130 140 120 100 20 870 
			 1 April to 30 June 2003 120 140 180 160 180 120 60 40 1,000 
			 1 July to 30 September 2003 200 100 170 150 160 120 80 30 1,020 
			 1 October to 31 December 2003 150 160 160 170 180 120 100 40 1,080 
			 1 January to 31 March 2004 180 120 140 140 160 110 40 30 910 
			 1 April to 30 June 2004 150 160 160 150 150 100 60 30 970 
			 1 July to 30 September 2004 130 120 170 130 180 70 40 30 870 
			 1 October to 31 December 2004 140 140 130 170 130 90 70 20 890 
			 1 January to 31 March 2005 90 60 60 60 70 40 60 (17) 440 
			 1 April to 30 June 2005 110 140 140 130 160 90 50 20 830 
			 1 July to 30 September 2005 130 100 110 110 110 80 70 20 720 
			 1 October to 31 December 2005 70 110 90 110 110 90 40 20 640 
		
	
	(17)Indicates a value of zero or rounded to zero.
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.
	2.Figures do not include Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), Gurkhas or Mobilised Reservists. The information relates to the flows of UK Trained Regular Army Personnel in the Scottish Regiments, regardless of whether they serve away from the main body of the Regiment, this does not include other Arms/Services attached to the Regiments.
	3.Soldiers joining the Infantry are not allocated to a particular Regiment until completion of training at the Infantry Training Centre (Catterick). Officers are allocated a Regiment on completion of their Commissioning Course at RMAS. Therefore the table includes those officers and soldiers who joined the Scottish Regiments on completion of training. It will also include direct entries to the trained strength, such as trained re-entrants.
	4.The above figures will include those individuals who have entered the trained strength with an intake code from illegal absence, flowing either from untrained to trained or directly to trained strength. These figures may therefore appear different to other published figures.
	5.POW Div=Prince of Wales Division.
	6.'Other' includes, Royal Irish (General Service), Regular Army Gurkha Officers etc.
	7.Figures exclude Colonels and above.

International Criminal Court

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British military personnel against whom it has been decided in the United Kingdom that no action should be taken may be summoned to appear before the International Criminal Court.

John Reid: The International Criminal Court (ICC) only has jurisdiction over the offences specified in Article 5 of its Statute. The ICC does not replace national courts, as is made clear in paragraph 10 of the Preamble to the ICC Statute. This expressly provides that the Court 'shall be complementary to national criminal jurisdictions'. The Statute makes clear that only if a state is unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out an investigation or prosecution will a case be admissible, and unless a case is admissible the Court cannot exercise its jurisdiction. The Statute (Article 17.2) requires the Court to determine 'unwillingness' in a particular case by considering,
	whether one or more of the following exists:
	the proceedings were or are being undertaken or the national decision was made for the purposes of shielding the person concerned from criminal responsibility for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court; there has been an unjustified delay in the proceedings which in the circumstances is inconsistent with an intent to bring the person concerned to justice;
	the proceedings were not or are not being conducted independently or impartially, and they are or were being conducted in a manner which, in the circumstances, is inconsistent with an intent to bring the person concerned to justice.
	The Statute (Article 17.3) requires the Court to determine 'inability' in a particular case by considering,
	whether, due to a total or substantial collapse or unavailability of its national judicial system, the state is unable to obtain the accused or the necessary evidence and testimony or otherwise unable to carry on its proceedings.
	A decision to take no further action, whether in relation to investigation or proceedings, and whether taken by investigators, prosecutors or a court, does not in itself imply an unwillingness or inability genuinely to investigate or prosecute.
	The Government do not envisage that circumstances will ever arise in which the ICC would conclude that the UK is unable or unwilling genuinely to investigate or prosecute, and accordingly does not envisage that the ICC will ever exercise jurisdiction over any member of the British armed forces. The ICC prosecutor has also recently decided that there is no reasonable basis to initiate an investigation into UK military operations in Iraq.

Land Mines

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencewhat research and development work is being undertaken by his Department on land mines; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Apart from some work to develop a more capable fuse for the UK's in-service anti-tank mine capability, research effort is focused on countering mines and improvised explosive devices. Studies are looking at future methods of providing a counter-mobility capability, but no detailed research into any particular solution is being conducted. The UK is a signatory to the Ottawa convention and has no anti-personnel land mine capability.

Mental Health Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what (a) mental health and (b) counselling services are available to service personnel in theatre;
	(2)  what (a) mental health and (b) counselling services his Department provides for service personnel returning from active duty.

Don Touhig: The medical component of most deployments will include mental health professionals. These specialist personnel offer a liaison service to unit medical officers and commanders and will see Service personnel with mental health problems. In theatre, referrals are always made via the Medical Officer.
	For example, in Iraq, a mental health team is based at the UK Shaibah Logistics base, and is staffed by two community psychiatric nurses. A consultant Psychiatrist also visits the theatre regularly for Clinical Governance purposes and to provide advice on individual patients. Reserve Personnel have the same access to medical care and treatment as regular personnel while they are mobilised.
	I will write to the hon. Member separately to provide greater detail on wider mental health support and counselling provided for personnel both during and after deployed operations.

Military Code of Conduct

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencewhat guidance is provided to members of the British armed services on the action they should take if they witness criminal acts by members of (a) other national armed forces and (b) UN peacekeeping missions.

Adam Ingram: Our armed forces are trained to respect their disciplinary code and to have respect for the law wherever they are serving. Queens regulations and the armed forces' Values and Standards demand the highest standards of good order, conduct and discipline, and require that individuals carrying out their duties should strive to promote the excellence of their service and show an example to those who are subject to their command. Any incidences of wrongdoing or misconduct, including by other nations' armed forces, should not be condoned and should be reported to the chain of command.

Missile Defence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) of 15 February 2006, Official Report, column 2096W, on missile defence, when he expects to make a decision on whether the UK will pursue missile defence.

John Reid: There is no set timetable for making a decision on whether to acquire a territorial missile defence capability for the United Kingdom. Such a decision will be informed by the developing threat to the UK from ballistic missiles, other responses available to counter the threat, and the suitability of the relevant technology available to us, among other considerations. The UK already supports the NATO programme to acquire by 2010 a theatre missile defence capability to protect deployed forces.

Naval Procurement

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral Answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 16, on naval procurement, if he will make it his policy to use steel made in the UK in the construction of vessels for the Royal Navy.

Adam Ingram: A variety of different British and international standards of steel are used in UK warships. It is for the companies designing and building these ships to decide the source of the steel to be used. Ships in the current fleet, including for instance Type 23 frigates, have incorporated steel from both British and overseas steelmakers.

Overseas Deployments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many residents of Leicester are serving with the armed forces in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

Don Touhig: Data on the residential location of armed forces personnel is not held centrally in databases of individual records and it is therefore not possible to give figures by place of residence.

Planning Guidance (Airfields)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects on airfields in East Anglia of the proposed change in the definition of brownfield in planning policy guidance note 3.

Don Touhig: The Department has assessed the proposed changes to the definition of brownfield land in the Consultation Paper on the new planning policy statement 3, which is proposed to replace planning policy guidance note 3.
	No effects upon our airfields in East Anglia are anticipated as a result of the changed definition in the consultation document.

QinetiQ

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated market-to-market value is of (a) share options and (b) shares in QinetiQ issued at the time of the original public private partnership with Carlyle Group; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: Details on the share capital of QinetiQ are set out in the QinetiQ IPO prospectus, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 26 January. Immediately prior to the IPO, QinetiQ's share capital comprised a single class of ordinary shares, in addition to the special share. The IPO priced the ordinary shares at 200p each.

Sanctuary Magazine

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost of producing and distributing the Sanctuary magazine was in the last year for which figures are available; how many copies of each edition are printed; and to whom they are distributed free of charge.

Don Touhig: The total production and distribution costs, including dedicated staff where costs can be identified, for the 2005 edition of Sanctuary magazine were some 52,000.
	20,000 copies of the 2005 edition were printed of which approximately half were distributed within Ministry of Defence. The remainder were sent to a range of external stakeholders, including MPs and members of the general public. All of these recipients received Sanctuary free of charge. The MOD has received a number of favourable comments.

Service Insignia

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencewhat representations he has received about the licensing of (a) roundels and (b) other insignia used by the armed forces since the registration of these as trademarks; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: A number of licences for use of MOD marks, including the roundel and other armed forces insignia, have been granted to enable MOD to control use of these marks.
	It is MOD's policy to pursue cases where its Intellectual Property rights have been infringed. Where no use of MOD's Intellectual Property is shown to have occurred, no further action is taken.
	It is assumed that when the question refers to representations, it means the kind of discussions that are part of the normal licensing negotiations. No specific representations have been made regarding MOD's overall policy to prevent mis-use of its Intellectual Property.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have (a) been commissioned into and (b) left the Territorial Army (TA), including those transferring to the long term reserve list, in each year since 2001.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the intake and outflow of Territorial Army officers during the period 1 October 2003 to 31 December 2005. October 2003 is the earliest date for which reliable TA inflow and outflow data are available.
	
		Territorial Army (TA) officer flows
		
			  Inflows Outflows 
		
		
			 1 October 2003 to 31 December 2003 130 90 
			 2004 490 650 
			 2005 390 560 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The data exclude full-time reserve service (FTRS), non-regular permanent staff (NRPS) and mobilised TA.
	2.The data are based on flows during the period 1 October 2003 and 31 December 2003, and for the calendar years 2004 and 2005.
	3.The data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.
	4.Inflow figures include all inflow e.g. those who have commissioned from the ranks, inflow from the Officer Training Corps, inflow from Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO) and intake from civil life. It does not include the inflow of officers returning from mobilisation.
	5.Outflow figures exclude those officers who become mobilised.

Territorial Army

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army there are in Northern Ireland.

Don Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 33W.

Z-berths

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of Z-berths; what the reasons are for reinstating them; and what criteria were used to choose locations for them.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 March 2006
	The Royal Navy has two kinds of nuclear submarine berths: X-berths at Devonport, Faslane and Barrow in Furness, which are the only places where maintenance on nuclear propulsion systems may be carried out; and Z-berths which are used for operational recuperation, material re-supply and personnel changeovers. Z-berths support the Royal Navy's ability to operate flexibly throughout UK waters, which is key to its contribution to the security of the UK homeland.
	Until 2001, the Royal Navy could use Z-berths in Broadford Bay, Cardiff, RNAD Coulport, Hull, Liverpool, Loch Ewe, Loch Goil, Portland, Portsmouth and Southampton. With the introduction of the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations in 2001, responsibility for production of emergency planning arrangements transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the relevant local authority. The Royal Navy has therefore temporarily ceased use of Z-Berths in commercial ports to allow local authorities time to develop and test their own plans. The Ministry of Defence supports and pays for this work.
	The following Z-berths are now covered by the necessary plans and are available for use by the Royal Navy: Broadford Bay, RNAD Coulport, Loch Ewe, Loch Goil and Portsmouth. The MOD is currently working with Southampton city council to finalise the emergency planning arrangements necessary to re-establish full Z-berth status in Southampton, and is discussing the planning requirements for the berth at Portland with Dorset county council and Weymouth and Portland borough council. Preliminary discussions have also been held with Sefton metropolitan borough council in Liverpool.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Child Protection

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average time between referral of a case to the Children's Safeguard Unit and its determination was in the last period for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: This information is not available. In order to progress a case to conclusion there is a process which involves giving both the individual and the referring organisation the chance to comment on information provided by each, and consideration of any relevant information from third parties. As a result, each case is unique and thus the time taken to conclude a case varies.

Education and Skills Benchmarks

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on developments during the recent British EU Presidency in meeting the five education and skills benchmarks under the Lisbon goals.

Bill Rammell: Achievement of the five education and skills benchmarks is the responsibility of each Member State, through implementation of national education and training strategies. The UK supported progress towards these benchmarks during the Presidency by organising events on the key themes of investment in skills, higher education, adult learning, young people and ICT in schools.
	The 2006 Joint Interim Report from the Council and the Commission, Modernising education and training: a vital contribution to prosperity and social cohesion in Europe, sets out overall EU performance against the five benchmarks and identifies priorities for future cooperation. A copy of the draft report is in the House Library.

Education Funding

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many courses of fewer than nine hours' study will have public funding withdrawn in (a) 2006/07 and (b) 2007/08; how many of these courses will be in (i) health and safety and (ii) food safety; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: On 21 October, I made an announcement, setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. My main purpose for doing so was to ensure the 2006/07 funding allocations process began with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin funding over the next two years. In addition, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) published 'Priorities for Success' ; a document that sets out the funding strategy for the next two years in more detail. This document is available on the LSC's website.
	Although more funding will be going into the sector, we will focus funding even more strongly on key priorities of raising participation and achievement 1419 and driving down the skills deficit in the adult workforce. This will mean that less provision outside these priority areas can be supported at previous levels, and that there has to be a new balance of responsibilities between government, employers and learners to achieve this.
	Many short health and safety and food safety courses are not identifiable centrally. Of those 81 short course learning aims which can be identified, ten were basic skills or ICT courses, 56 were generic or other subjects, and fifteen were food hygiene or health and safety learning aims.
	The LSC have sought views from colleges and representative organisations about these proposed funding changes and I expect all colleges will agree in May their final funding allocations for 2006/07.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps are taken to verify financial details given by students applying for education maintenance allowances;
	(2)  how much has been spent on administration of education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme was piloted; and how much is expected to be spent in each year until 200910;
	(3)  whether any further education institution which is in financial difficulty and whose students are eligible for education maintenance allowance is receiving extra funding to enable it to administer the scheme;
	(4)  what non-financial support is given to individual further education institutions in providing the education maintenance allowance;
	(5)  what measures are in place to ensure that studentsare awarded education maintenance allowance on a consistent basis, with particular reference to (a) attendance, (b) legitimate absence, (c) casual sickness and (d) transport difficulties.

Maria Eagle: These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate Education Maintenance Allowances for the DfES. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Education Provision (Hendon)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free part-time early education places were taken up by three and four-year-olds in Hendon in (a) 200506 and (b) 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: All four-year-olds have been entitled to a free early education place since 1998 and from April 2004 this entitlement was extended to all three-year-olds. The free entitlement consists of a minimum of five two and a half hour sessions per week for 33 weeks of the year for six terms before statutory school age, which is the term following their fifth birthday. This will increase to 38 weeks from 1 April 2006 and to 15 hours a week by 2010. By that time, parents who wish to do so will also be able to access the free entitlement flexibly across a minimum of three days.
	Some local authorities may additionally offer subsidised child care places but this information is not collected centrally.
	Figures for January 2005 show that all four-year-old children receive some form of free entitlement. The figure for three-years-olds is 96 per cent. This covers all maintained, private, voluntary and independent providers and represents 535,100 three-year-olds and 568,300 four-year-olds.
	The available information on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in Hendon parliamentary constituency area and Barnet local authority is shown in the tables.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 43/2005 Provision for children under five years of age in EnglandJanuary 2005 (final) in September, which is available on my Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000604/index.shtml.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(18) taken up by three and four-year-olds: Local authority-Barnet, position in January each year
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(19) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(20) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 2,000 (21) 2,000 (21) (21) (22)3,500 
			 1998 2,000 (21) 2,000 (21) (21) (22)3,700 
			 1999 2,000 (21) 2,000 (21) (21) (22)3,800 
			 2000 2,000 (23)0 2,000 (21) (21) (22)3,600 
			 2001 2,000 (23)390 2,400 (21) (21) (22)3,700 
			 2002 1,900 (23)340 2,200 3,000 (22)590 3,600 
			 2003 1,900 (23)1,300 3,100 2,900 (24)700 3,600 
			 2004 1,800 (25)870 2,700 2,900 (26)580 3,500 
			 2005 1,800 (25)1,500 3,300 3,000 (26)660 3,700 
		
	
	(18)Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(19)Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(20)Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(21)Not available.
	5 Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(22)Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(23)Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census supplementary data collection exercise and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(24)Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(25)Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(26) taken up by three and four-year-olds: parliamentary constituency-Hendon, position in January each year
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(27) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(28) Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(29) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(30) Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 2004 610 350 960 1,100 170 1,300 
			 2005 530 660 1,200 1,100 250 1,300 
		
	
	(26)Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(27)Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(28)Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(29)Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(30)Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	Changes in pupil figures may arise from changes to the underlying population in the local authority area and other factors. However, my Department doesn't publish population figures for individual age cohorts at sub-national level because of the unreliability of the underlying population estimates. The Office for National Statistics publish sub-national population estimates in five-year age bands.

Employer Training Pilots

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Employer Training Pilot programmes.

Phil Hope: Employer Training pilots were introduced in September 2002 to encourage employers to train their low skilled employees. They tested a package of measures, including wage compensation for employers, to improve access to training and enable employees to attain basic skills (literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and/or their first, full Level 2 qualification). The number of pilot areas has been progressively increased and currently stands at 20 of the 47 LSC areas.
	Evaluation findings have been largely positive. The evaluations undertaken by the Institute for Employment Studies concluded that:
	The pilots have been very successful in engaging employers and employees in training up to a first full Level 2. There are now over 236,027 learners and 28,281 employers signed up to ETPs and 123,687 have successfully completed their training. Employer and employee satisfaction levels are over 90 per cent.
	Employers are attracted mainly by the free or heavily subsidised flexibly delivered training, and the services of the independent broker to help them identify the most suitable training and source it.
	Employers felt that important benefits to taking part in ETP included boosting employees self confidence, employees gaining job related skills/qualifications and improved the quality of the organisations services or products.
	Learners are attracted by the opportunity to obtain skills to do their job better and to gain a qualification.
	A separate evaluation by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which focused only on the first year of the pilots, identified that additionality was not as high as we would have hoped at that stage. The IFS report has pointed to the need to ensure better targeting of 'hard to reach' employers and be more rigorous in applying learner eligibility rules. We are confident that the position has improved since the first year of the pilots. We have also learnt important lessons from the pilots about the key factors motivating employers and learners to engage in training, and the best ways to adapt training provision to the needs and pressures of the workplace.
	The pilots have been effective in encouraging more colleges and other training providers to deliver training more flexibly, for example on employer's premises or at a time and in a manner suited to their shift patterns. Providers have also been encouraged to tailor training to focus on the skills gaps identified through initial training needs assessments.
	The Employer Training Pilots have therefore been wholly successful in enabling us to evaluate what is effective in engaging employers in training their low skilled employees and have been invaluable in informing the development of policy for Train to Gain, the new national employer training programme that will roll out from April 2006. Train to Gain will reach full national coverage in August 2006 and is central to the delivery of the demand led approach to training that is at the heart of the Government's Skills Strategy.
	When fully operational Train to Gain will provide training to 350,000 learners from 50,000 employers per year. This should result in 175,000 first, full Level 2 qualifications each year. By 200910 it is expected that Train to Gain will have contributed over 500,000 first, full Level 2 achievements towards the Government's Level 2 targets.

Extended School Hours

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been given to Barnet for extended school hours initiatives; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Over 200508 we are making available 790 million to support the development of extended services accessed in or through schools. 110 million of this was allocated in 200506 and Barnet local authority received 561,891. Of the 680 million to be allocated across 200608, 250 million will go direct to schools through the School Standards Grant and the formula for announcing each school's allocation for 200607 was announced on 7 December. The remaining 430 million will be distributed to local authorities through the Standards Fund and the General Sure Start Grant. Of this, Barnet local authority will receive 964,178 in 200607 and 1,196,661 in 200708. Funding will be released to schools in accordance with each local authority's strategy for extended services.

Free Nursery Education

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will publish a summary of findings and recommendations following the consultation in the code of practice on the provision of free nursery education places for three and four-year-olds.

Beverley Hughes: The code has been revised in the light of views expressed during consultation and. is now available on the Sure Start website at www.surestart.gov.uk. It was e-mailed to local authorities on Wednesday 22 February and hard copies are being despatched to early years providers delivering the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds. Copies will also be placed in the House of Commons Library. The code will come into force with effect from 1 April. A detailed report on the consultation, including a summary of responses, is currently being finalised and will be placed on the Sure Start website shortly.

Learning Outcomes

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress her Department has made in consultation with professional interests in improving the transparency and recognition of learning outcomes (a) within the EU and (b) in the wider international community.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills consults with professional interests in improving the transparency and recognition of learning outcomes on a number of EU initiatives.
	(i) Mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the regulated professions
	We are actively working with the regulatory authorities (statutory and professional bodies) to secure effective and timely implementation of Directive 2005/36/EC, on the recognition of professional qualifications.
	(ii) UK National Reference Point
	The UK National Reference Point for vocational qualifications was established in response to EU Council Recommendation 2001/613/EC. It provides information and advice to individuals, institutions and employers on matters relating to European vocational education and training systems, qualifications and certificates.
	(iii) Europass
	Council Decision 2241/2004/EC established a single Community framework for achieving the transparency of qualifications and competences by the creation of a personal, coordinated portfolio of documents to be known as Europass. Europass consists of the common European CV, the Diploma Supplement, Europass Mobility, the Certificate Supplement, and the European Language Portfolio. Each member state has designated a National Europass Centre (NEC) responsible for the setting up of an Internet site and information system; and providing an electronic link to the European Commission's website which contains the portfolio.
	(iv) NARIC
	The National Academic Recognition and Information Centre (NARIC) network was first established by the EU SOCRATES programme in 1995. The UK's NARIC gives independent information and advice on the comparability and mutual recognition of UK and international qualifications and promotes UK qualifications internationally.
	(v) Bologna Process
	UK participates fully in the Bologna Process, which includes more countries than the 25 EU member states. One of the key objectives of the Bologna Process is to make degrees more easily comparable. Ministerial communiques have recognised the importance of learning outcomes in achieving comparability. The Bologna Process also recognises the important role that the NARIC networks have to play in recognition of degrees.
	(vi) Commission consultation on a European Qualifications Network
	The European Commission launched its Europe-wide consultation on a European Qualification Framework in July 2005. The European Qualifications Framework (EOF) is designed to act as a translation device to enable different qualification frameworks to be related to each other across national boundaries. The Department for Education and Skills launched a UK-wide consultation on this proposal on 2 September 2005. 153 organisations were alerted to the consultation, and responses were received from professional bodies and business organisations, trades unions, awarding/examination bodies, sector skills organisations, higher education institutions and a local authority.
	There are no similar initiatives in the wider international community.

List 99

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions people on List 99 have been allowed to teach children in each of the last 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: Anyone who is on List 99 on the grounds that they are unsuitable to work with children is barred from working in any school.

List 99

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to paragraph 27 of her Review of the List 99 decision-making process and policy implications document published on 19 January, whether the view of the police that Paul Reeve does not pose a current risk takes into account the concern expressed by Chief Constable Carole Howlett in her letter to the Home Office of 12 December 2005.

Ruth Kelly: As paragraph 27 of the referenced document made clear, none of the individuals referred to in that paragraph is judged by the police to pose a current risk. The police judgment was based on the very latest intelligence gathered by police through a range of enquiries and personal visits to each individual. Local risk assessment mechanisms remain in place, and further action would be triggered if the police judgment changed.

Protection of Children Act

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used to decide who is (a) placed on and (b) removed from the Protection of Children Act List; who is responsible for deciding who is placed on it; and if she will make a statement on the operation of the list.

Ruth Kelly: The Protection of Children Act list is a referrals-based system. Following disciplinary action for misconduct, if certain conditions are satisfied, child care organisations must refer the names of individuals employed in child care positions to the Secretary of State (these are usually employers but a small number of other organisations have the power to refer names). To place an individual on the Protection of Children Act List providing I am satisfied that the referral is a valid one, my Department must form the opinion that:
	(1) the referring organisation reasonably considered the person to be guilty of misconduct which harmed a child or placed a child at risk of harm, (whether or not in the course of employment), and;
	(2) that the individual is unsuitable to work with children.
	Individuals who are confirmed on the Protection of Children Act List have the right of appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal if they do so within three months of the date of that decision. The Secretary of State has discretionary powers to remove names from the PoCA List in limited circumstances (for instance where a conviction has been quashed on appeal or where a malicious referral is uncovered following the production of new evidence).

Sex Offenders

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether any registered sex offenders have been approved by her Department to work in Wokingham local education authority schools.

Ruth Kelly: My statement and the accompanying report of 19 January set out clearly the Government's analysis of, and response to, issues concerning child protection and List 99, together with the action we are currently taking.
	My Department does not approve people to work in schools. These decisions are a matter for the employer having taken into account the relevant CRB check.

Teenage Pregnancies

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Sure Start Plus in reducing levels of teenage pregnancies in the UK's most deprived areas; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the rate of pregnancy among under 18s was in the most deprived areas in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the causes of high teenage pregnancy rates in deprived areas.

Beverley Hughes: The primary purpose of the Sure Start Plus pilots is to improve health and education outcomes for young mothers and their children. However, Sure Start Plus also has a role in reducing the incidence of repeat unplanned pregnancies and increasing the proportion of young mothers in education, employment and training, because these reduce their likelihood of long-term social exclusion, and act as protective factors against their children becoming teenage parents themselves.
	There is a strong link between social deprivation and higher rates of teenage pregnancy. The following table compares the average under-18 conception rate in the 20 per cent. most deprived local authorities (LAs) and the 20 per cent. least deprived, for each year from 1997 to 2003 (the latest year for which data are available). The table shows that, on average, rates in the most deprived 20 per cent. local authorities are a third higher than the national average. Ward level conception statistics show even greater differences between the most deprived and least deprived areas.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England average 45.5 46.6 44.8 43.6 42.5 42.6 42.1 
			 
			 Most deprived 5th local authorities 60.2 60.9 59.2 57.5 55.5 56.0 56.3 
			 2nd most deprived 49.8 51.4 48.7 47.6 46.5 46.8 45.4 
			 3rd most deprived 41.8 41.1 40.5 38.5 37.8 38.2 36.9 
			 4th most deprived 32.7 34.6 31.9 31.9 31.2 30.0 30.3 
			 
			 Least deprived 5th local authorities 26.6 27.9 25.8 25.5 24.9 24.9 24.5 
		
	
	Note:
	Rates per 1,000 females aged 1517.
	Sources:
	ONS and TPU, 2005.
	The causes of teenage pregnancy are complex. The table demonstrates the strong link to social deprivation. However, analysis shows that deprivation is not the only factor. Over and above deprivation, teenage pregnancy rates are influenced by factors such as educational attainment and rates of attendance at school. A full analysis of the causes of teenage pregnancy will be included in a strategy document setting out the next phase of the teenage pregnancy strategy, due to be published shortly.

Teenage Pregnancies

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teenage pregnancies there were in Wolverhampton in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 7 March 2006
	In 2004, the under-18 conception rate for Wolverhampton was 60.8 per 1,000 young women aged 1517 (290conceptions), compared to a rate of 66.3 per 1,000 (307 conceptions) in 1998the baseline year for the teenage pregnancy strategy. This represents an 8.3 per cent. fall in the under-18 conception rate in Wolverhampton, compared to an 11.1 per cent. fall in the rate in England over the same period.
	The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy is making steady progress, with both under-18 and under-16 conception rates now at their lowest levels since the mid-1980s. However, we need to accelerate progress to achieve the challenging PSA target to halve the under-18 conception rate by 2010. We will shortly be publishing a strategy document setting out our plans for improving performance during the next phase of the strategy.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Attendance Allowance

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the average period of time between a claim for attendance allowance being approved and the first payment being received by the claimant.

Anne McGuire: The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the disability and carers service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the average period of time between a claim for attendance allowance being approved and the first payment being received by the claimant.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The first payment made following an award of attendance allowance will usually be a payment of arrears and this takes up to 7 days to reach the customer's account, if benefit is paid into a bank/ building society or Post Office account. If the seventh day is a Saturday or a Sunday, payment will be credited into the account the Friday before.
	There are still a small minority of cases where payments are made by cheques. These cheques are posted by first class mail to the customer the day after the payments are authorised, having been printed over night.
	As at February 2006, 98.4% of attendance allowance payments are made into an account with only 1.6% paid by cheque.
	In the case of forward dated awards of attendance allowance, the first payment will be from when entitlement begins.
	I hope this is helpful.

Benefit Fraud

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what collaborative projects his Department has undertaken with the Merseyside Police Authority to combat fraudulent activities in relation to benefits; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave her on 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 597W.

Benefits (Torfaen)

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Torfaen constituency have claimed (a) incapacity benefit, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) income support in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants in the Torfaen parliamentary constituency
		
			 As at August each year: Number 
		
		
			 1997 7,300 
			 1998 7,100 
			 1999 7,000 
			 2000 7,000 
			 2001 7,000 
			 2002 7,000 
			 2003 6,800 
			 2004 6,500 
			 2005 6,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The parliamentary constituency figures for the years 1997 to 1998 have been produced using the 5 per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance, including IB credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples from 1997 to 1998 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data thereafter.
	
		Income support (IS) and jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants in the Torfaen parliamentary constituency
		
			 As at August each year: Jobseeker's allowance Income support 
		
		
			 1997 2,159 4,500 
			 1998 1,956 4,400 
			 1999 1,671 4,400 
			 2000 1,477 4,500 
			 2001 1,334 4,600 
			 2002 1,308 4,500 
			 2003 1,297 4,300 
			 2004 998 4,200 
			 2005 1,053 3,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Jobseeker's allowance figures are unrounded, income support figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2.To allow for meaningful comparison across the time series, income support figures do not include pensioners; pensioner's claims were transferred to pension credit in October 2003.
	3.JSA figures are not seasonally adjusted.
	4.IS figures for August 1999 to August 2005 have been taken from 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, figures for August 1997 to August 1998 have been uprated using 5 per cent. case loads. JSA figures have been taken from the 100 per cent. unemployment claimant count using NOMIS.
	Sources:
	DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS), Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples and count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (including clerically held cases).

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many Child Support Agency cases have been transferred from the old scheme to the new scheme in each month since March 2003; and how many old scheme cases remain to be transferred; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total backlog of Child Support Agency cases operating under the old scheme of calculation which were due to transfer to the new scheme, but where the transfer had not yet taken place, has been in each month since March 2003.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency cases have been transferred from the old scheme to the new scheme in each month since March 2003; and how many old scheme cases remain to be transferred; and if he will make a statement.
	In addition, you asked what is the total backlog of all Child Support Agency cases operating under the old scheme of calculation which are due to transfer to the new scheme but where the transfer has not yet taken place for each month since March 2003.
	To date, management information in this area has been limited, an issue which, as an Agency we are now seeking to address. It is not therefore possible to provide a time series for migration, but the overall number of cases that have been transferred from the old scheme to the new scheme: which, as at 31 December stood at around 36,000. This figure is currently a best estimate, and may therefore be subject to change in the future.
	We hope to be able to provide a robust time-series of both this information and also information on those cases awaiting early conversion as a result of links to old scheme cases in the next few months. As soon as this is available, it will be published in the Agency's Quarterly Summary Statistics (QSS), a copy of the latest edition of which is available in the House Library.
	In respect of those old scheme cases remaining to be transferred, the old scheme caseload stood at 930,000 as at the end of December 2005.
	I hope you find this helpful.

Disability Allowance (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions how many young people have been registered for disability allowance in Peterborough constituency in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran, dated 9 March 2006
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people have been registered for disability allowance in Peterborough constituency in each year since 1997.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The information requested is in the following table.
	
		Claimants of disability living allowance under age 16 as at August each year from 1997 to 2005 in the parliamentary constituency of Peterborough -- Thousand
		
			  All entitled cases 
		
		
			 2005 0.6 
			 2004 0.6 
			 2003 0.6 
			 2002 0.6 
			 2001 0.6 
			 2000 0.5 
			 1999 0.5 
			 1998 0.4 
			 1997 0.4 
		
	
	Definitions and conventions: - nil or negligible; . not applicable; caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Notes:
	1.Totals shows the number of people with entitlement to DLA, including those where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.
	2.Parliamentary constituencies are allocated using the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	3.Figures are as at August of each year.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 5 per cent. samples for detail/long time series.
	I hope this is helpful.

Housing Benefits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, columns 24446W, what the percentage changes in numbers of housing benefit claimants were; and what the cost to the Exchequer was in each local authority in England and Wales in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many claimants of housing benefit there were in each local authority in England and Wales in the last three years for which figures are available; and what total amount was paid in each case.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested; the available information on claimant numbers, percentage increases and benefit expenditure has been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, columns 24446W, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increases in the number of housing benefit claimants in Hampshire.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available. However, we want to ensure that people get the money they are entitled to. For example, people claiming pension credit can access housing benefit and council tax benefit at the same time via the Pension Service: one phone call, one number, three benefits.

Housing Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of changing the housing benefit taper disregard for earned income only to (a) 30 per cent. and (b) 40 per cent.

James Plaskitt: The estimated cost of changing the housing benefit taper from 65 per cent. to 30 per cent. for earned income, and keeping it at 65 per cent. for all other income, is 1,050 million per annum.
	The estimated cost of changing the housing benefit taper from 65 per cent. to 40 per cent. for earned income, and keeping it at 65 per cent. for all other income, is 550 million per annum.
	Notes:
	1.The estimate is rounded to the nearest 50 million and is for Great Britain. 2.Earned income consists of income from earnings only, and excludes occupational pensions. For a couple, their earned income is their combined earnings. 3.This impact is estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model, which is based on data from the 200304 Family Resources Survey, up-rated to 200506 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels. 4.Results are subject to sampling and reporting errors and estimation assumptions, and are therefore indicative only. No behavioural changes are assumed.

Housing Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of changing the council tax benefit income disregard for earned income only to 10 per cent.

James Plaskitt: The cost of changing the council tax benefit taper from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent. for earned income, and keeping it at 20 per cent. for all other income, is estimated to be 290 million per annum.
	Notes:
	1.The estimate is rounded to the nearest 10 million and is for Great Britain. 2.Earned income consists of income from earnings only, and excludes occupational pensions. For a couple, their earned income is their combined earnings. 3.This impact is estimated using the Department's policy simulation model, which is based on data from the 200304 Family Resources Survey, up-rated to 200506 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels. 4.Results are subject to sampling and reporting errors and estimation assumptions, and are therefore indicative only. No behavioural changes are assumed.

Incapacity Benefit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living within (a) St. Edmundsbury borough council, (b) Mid Suffolk district council and (c) the constituency of Bury St.Edmunds were in receipt of incapacity benefit in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: Information broken down by parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 1997. The available information is in the following table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in St. Edmundsbury borough council, Mid Suffolk district council and the Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency areas
		
			 May St. Edmundsbury borough council Mid Suffolk district council Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency 
		
		
			 1995 2,000 2,000  
			 1996 2,200 2,000  
			 1997 2,200 2,100 2,200 
			 1998 2,200 2,100 2,100 
			 1999 2,500 2,200 2,400 
			 2000 2,600 2,000 2,400 
			 2001 2,700 2,000 2,500 
			 2002 2,700 2,000 2,600 
			 2003 2,700 2,000 2,500 
			 2004 2,700 2,100 2,600 
			 2005 2,700 2,100 2,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The local authority figures from 1995 to 1999 and the parliamentary constituency figures for the years 1997 to 1999 have been produced using the 5 per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3.Summed figures for St. Edmundsbury council and Mid Suffolk council do not represent total figures for Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency.
	4.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance claimants including IB credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Samples from 1995 to 1999 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data thereafter.

Incapacity Benefit

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants in the borough of Wandsworth have been receiving benefit for five years or more; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: As at August 2005 there were 4,900 claimants of incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance in the London borough of Wandsworth who had been claiming for five years or more.

Incapacity Benefit

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Putney constituency were receiving incapacity benefit in (a) 200102, (b) 200203, (c) 200304 and (d) 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information on the number of people claiming incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in the Putney parliamentary constituency
		
			 As at August each year: Number 
		
		
			 2001 2,700 
			 2002 2,700 
			 2003 2,800 
			 2004 2,900 
			 2005 2,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are shown rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance cases, including IB credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Incapacity Benefit

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Putney constituency aged (a) 20 to 25, (b) 26 to 30, (c) 31 to 35, (d) 36 to 40, (e) 41 to 45, (f) 46 to 50, (g) 51 to 55, (h) 56 to 60 and (i) 61 to 65 years are in receipt of incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information on the number of people claiming incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants by age in the Putney parliamentary constituency: August 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 All ages 2,900 
			 Under 20  
			 20 to 25 200 
			 26 to 30 200 
			 31 to 35 300 
			 36 to 40 300 
			 41 to 45 400 
			 46 to 50 400 
			 51 to 55 400 
			 56 to 60 500 
			 61 to 65 200 
			 66 and over  
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	2. means nil or negligible.
	3.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance, including IB credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Incapacity Benefit

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) male and (b) female incapacity benefit claimants there were in Putney (i) in total, (ii) broken down by age and (iii) broken down by category of claim in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the tables:
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in the Putney parliamentary constituency; by age and gender
		
			  August 
			 Putney 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 All Persons 2,700 2,700 2,800 2,900 2,900 
			 Under 25 100 100 100 200 200 
			 2534 400 400 400 400 400 
			 3544 600 700 700 700 700 
			 4549 300 300 400 400 400 
			 5054 400 400 400 400 400 
			 5559 500 500 500 500 500 
			 6064 300 300 300 300 300 
			 65+  
			   
			 Women 1,100 1,100 1,200 1,200 1,200 
			 Under 25 100 100 100 100 100 
			 2534 200 200 200 200 200 
			 3544 300 300 300 300 300 
			 4549 100 100 200 200 200 
			 5054 200 200 200 200 200 
			 5559 200 200 300 200 200 
			 6064  
			 65+  
			   
			 Men 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,700 
			 Under 25 100 100 100 100 100 
			 2534 200 200 200 200 200 
			 3544 400 400 400 400 400 
			 4549 200 200 200 200 200 
			 5054 200 200 200 200 200 
			 5559 200 200 200 300 300 
			 6064 300 300 300 300 200 
			 65+  
		
	
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in the Putney parliamentary constituency; by gender and diagnoses group
		
			  All Persons Women Men 
		
		
			 August 2001
			 All Diagnoses in Putney 2,700 1,100 1,600 
			 Neoplasms 100   
			 Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases 100   
			 Mental and Behavioural Disorders 1,100 500 600 
			 Diseases of the Nervous System 200 100 100 
			 Diseases of the Circulatory System 100  100 
			 Diseases of the Respiratory System 100   
			 Diseases of the Digestive System
			 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue 400 200 200 
			 Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified 300 100 200 
			 Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 100 100 100 
			 Other Diagnoses 300 100 200 
			 
			 August 2002
			 All Diagnoses in Putney 2,700 1,100 1,600 
			 Neoplasms
			 Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases
			 Mental and Behavioural Disorders 1,100 500 600 
			 Diseases of the Nervous System 200 100 100 
			 Diseases of the Circulatory System 100  100 
			 Diseases of the Respiratory System 100   
			 Diseases of the Digestive System
			 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue 400 200 200 
			 Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified 300 100 200 
			 Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 100  100 
			 Other Diagnoses 200 100 200 
			 
			 August 2003
			 All Diagnoses in Putney 2,800 1,200 1,600 
			 Neoplasms 100   
			 Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases 100   
			 Mental and Behavioural Disorders 1,200 500 700 
			 Diseases of the Nervous System 200 100 100 
			 Diseases of the Circulatory System 100  100 
			 Diseases of the Respiratory System 100   
			 Diseases of the Digestive System 100   
			 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue 400 200 200 
			 Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified 300 100 200 
			 Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 100  100 
			 Other Diagnoses 200 100 100 
			 
			 August 2004
			 All Diagnoses in Putney 2,900 1,200 1,700 
			 Neoplasms 100   
			 Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases 100   
			 Mental and Behavioural Disorders 1,300 500 700 
			 Diseases of the Nervous System 200 100 100 
			 Diseases of the Circulatory System 100  100 
			 Diseases of the Respiratory System 100   
			 Diseases of the Digestive System 100   
			 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue 400 200 200 
			 Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified 300 100 200 
			 Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 100  100 
			 Other Diagnoses 300 100 200 
			 
			 August 2005
			 All Diagnoses in Putney 2,900 1,200 1,700 
			 Neoplasms 100   
			 Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases
			 Mental and Behavioural Disorders 1,400 600 800 
			 Diseases of the Nervous System 200 100 100 
			 Diseases of the Circulatory System 100  100 
			 Diseases of the Respiratory System 100   
			 Diseases of the Digestive System
			 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue 400 200 200 
			 Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified 300 100 200 
			 Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 100  100 
			 Other Diagnoses 300 100 200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. denotes nil or negligible
	3.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement Allowance, including IB credits only cases.
	4.All diagnoses are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, published by the World Health Organisation.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Pensions

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of whether the period between publication of final versions of the (a) Occupational Pensions Schemes (Modification of Subsisting Rights) Regulations and (b) Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Regulations) was compatible with HM Revenue and Custom's stated objective of delaying the implementation of the simplified pension tax regime until April to allow employers and providers sufficient time to implement fully the benefits of simplification.

Stephen Timms: The Government do their best to ensure that regulations are laid in sufficient time. In the case of the Modification of Subsisting Rights Regulations, we have been working very closely with pension industry lawyers to ensure that the regulations provide the necessary flexibility that the industry itself has asked for. This means that we have had to strike a balance between ensuring that the regulations are effective and making sure that they are laid as early as possible.
	In the case of the Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations, they make minor and technical amendments to correct errors or omissions in earlier legislation, and therefore clarify matters for industry. They do not introduce new policies.

Public Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on his Department's public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. Total figures are given in the following table.
	
		000
		
			 Financial year Public relations(31) Information services(32) 
		
		
			 200405 1,435 11,749 
			 200304 1,412 2,553 
			 200203 689 1,007 
			 200102 59 1,588 
			 200001  1,237 
		
	
	(31)Figures for public relations activity relate to promotion of departmental initiatives such as age positive, new deal, and disability discrimination awareness. The figures do not include the costs of advertising campaigns or running costs of the Department's press office.
	(32)Information services include the costs of websites and telephone lines directly related to raising awareness/encouraging action on departmental initiatives with the general public and other specific targeted groups. The bulk of the increased costs in 200304 and 200405 are accounted for by increased expenditure on the development of online services delivered through the Department's websites.
	Note:
	DSS/DFEE costs.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Export Licences

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arms export licences to Iraq have been awarded to (a) Helston Gunsmiths of Truro and (b) Super Vision International Ltd since the beginning of 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the Government's individual export licensing decisions is commercially confidential and I am therefore neither able to confirm nor deny whether Helston Gunsmiths of Truro or Super Vision International Ltd have been granted any export licences for Iraq since January 2004.

BAE Systems

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the activities of BAE Systems and its subsidiaries in respect of the export of military equipment and support systems to Uganda.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 March 2006
	None. Issues relating to the alleged export in question are a matter for the South African Government as the exports were made from there, not from the UK.

BAE Systems

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export credits guarantees have been awarded to BAE Systems and its subsidiaries for each of the past five years for which records are available.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 7 March 2006
	Guarantees have been issued to BAE Systems and its subsidiaries in the last five years for the Al Yamamah contracts in Saudi Arabia. In addition in 2003 guarantees were issued for contracts relating to frigate refurbishment and boarder surveillance vehicles in Romania. One other cause was supported during this period but ECGD cannot provide information regarding it as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of BAE Systems or ECGD.

Biomass Capital Projects

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds have been allocated for supporting biomass capital projects in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; how many projects which have had their applications accepted have proceeded in each case; and how many applications were rejected.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 8 March 2006
	Funds were allocated following two rounds of the Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme in 2002. No further allocations have been made since from this scheme other than minor adjustments.
	
		(a) Scotland
		
			 Project Type Funds () Status 
		
		
			 Torren Energy Scottish Biomass Heat Clusters (Priority 3A) Heat only smaller boilers 580,655 Ongoing. Became Buccleuch Bio-energy Scottish Biomass Heat 
			 Torren Energy Scottish Biomass Heat Clusters (Priority 3B) Heat only large commercial and industrial boilers 193,552 Ongoing. Became Buccleuch Bio-energy Scottish Biomass Heat 
			 Biomass Fuelled Electricity Generating Station at Lockerbie 30 MW power plant, became 43 MW at later date 11.66 million Ongoing. Later increased to 18 million 
			 EPRLArjo Wiggins/The Corpach Biomass Plant CHP 5.04 million Ongoing 
			 Total  17.475 million  
		
	
	
		(b) England
		
			 Project Type Funds () Status 
		
		
			 Ecoheat Clusters Development Project Heat only 541,080 Ongoing 
			 Biomass Heating Clusters in South West England and Lincolnshire Heat only 500,000 Ongoing 
			 Rural Energy East Midlands Wood Hearing Network Heat only 879,060 Ongoing 
			 LignathermSE Regional Wood Heat Supply Company Heat only 372,750 Ongoing 
			 Industrial Ecoheat Development Project Heat only. Large industrial boilers 335,940 Ongoing 
			 Cliveden Community Small CHP 195,000 Declined offer 
			 Nottinghamshire Woodheat Project Heat only. Large commercial boilers 197,600 Ongoing 
			 Herefordshire Biomass Project 22 MW power plant 10.94 million Declined offer 
			 Wilton 10 30 MW power plant 10.40 million Ongoing 
			 6.88 MWe Biomass Combined Cycle Gasification CHP Plant 6.9 MWe/1.5 MW heat CHP 3.8 million Declined offer 
			 Eccleshall Biomass 2.2 MWe power plant 0.48 million Ongoing 
			 Charlton Energy 7 MWe / 7 MW heat CHP 2.0 million Ongoing 
			 Farmers Fuelling the Future 2 MWe CHP 0.96 million Ongoing 
			 Winkleigh Biomass 22 MWe advanced technology power plant 11.50 million Ongoing 
			 Total  43.1 million  
		
	
	Note:
	10 projects ongoing.
	6 projects were ineligible.
	2 were rejected.
	
		(c) Wales
		
			 Project Type Funds () Status 
		
		
			 BI-114 The Wales Biocluster Project Heat only 347,970 Ongoing 
			 Port Talbot Bio-Energy Plant. 13.7 MWe Power plant 4.65 million Ongoing 
			 Total  5.0 million  
		
	
	Note:
	4 projects were ineligible.
	1 was rejected.
	
		(d) Northern Ireland
		
			 Project Type Funds () Status 
		
		
			 Biomass for Sustainable Development Heat only 105,520 Declined 
			 Fermanagh Schools Heat only 96,000 Ongoing 
			 Balcas 2 MWe/10 MW heat CHP 2.03 million Ongoing 
			 Total  2.204 million  
		
	
	Note:
	3 projects were ineligible.
	0 were rejected.
	Summary
	England
	14 projects allocated funding
	3 declined the offer
	8 were rejected
	Total funding 43.1 million.
	Scotland
	4 projects allocated funding
	0 have declined
	0 rejected
	Total funding 17.475 million
	Wales
	2 projects allocated funding
	0 have declined
	5 rejected
	Total funding 5.0 million.
	Northern Ireland
	2 projects allocated funding
	1 have declined
	3 rejected
	Total funding 2.2 million (96,000 in 2005).

Business Support

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department gives to small local businesses in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Alun Michael: The Department of Trade and Industry supports a comprehensive range of business support services in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. The first step in gaining access to these services is to contact the local Business Link which is part of a network providing services in every part of England. The Business Link network provides the information, advice and support that is required in order to start, to maintain and to grow a business and includes an award-winning national website.
	Business Link exists:
	To help anyone who is thinking of starting a business
	To help small and medium-sized businesses to grow
	To help businesses to deal with problems, challenges and opportunities.
	The Business Link service is a crucial part of the Government's campaign to promote enterprise and to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.
	The local Business Link's office is Business Link Tees Valley. During 200506, Business Link Tees Valley received 1,441,979 from the core Business Link allocation. Business Link Tees Valley has used this funding to lever in significant additional fundscurrent estimates suggest that Business Link Tees Valley will deliver support and solutions worth 7,714,528 in 200506.
	Business Link provides access to the following DTI branded services:
	Selective Finance for Investment in England
	Knowledge Transfer Networksa grant to bring together businesses, universities and others with an interest in technology applications.
	Collaborative Grant for Research and Developmentfunding for collaborative R and D projects
	Knowledge Transfer Partnershipsa grant to transfer and embed knowledge into a business from the UK knowledge base via a strategic project
	Grant for Research and Developmenta grant to carry out Rand D.
	Grant for Investigating an Innovative Ideasubsidised consultancy to help businesses to implement their ideas
	Support to Implement Best Practicea free diagnostic with subsidised consultancy
	Small Firms Loan Guaranteeencouraging commercial lenders to provide loans to businesses lacking security
	In addition to the aforementioned, the DTI provides additional specialist support such as:
	Manufacturing Advisory Servicesdelivers hands-on advice and assistance from experts in a wide range of manufacturing disciplines.
	UK Trade and Investmentsupports companies in the UK doing business internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to set up or expand in the UK
	In addition, the region's regional development agency, One NorthEast delivers its own business support in conjunction with Business Link Tees Valley. These are:
	Resource Efficiency Business Support Serviceaims to improve the resource efficiency of regional businesses, impacting on productivity and profitability through the efficient use of energy, water and materials. Delivered through brokerage, the service is supported with 1,650,000 of funding by One NorthEast to 200708.
	Flexible Skills Fundprovides 650,000 per year funding for SMEs, matched by business contributions to support accredited or non-accredited training at level 3 or above, linked to a business objective.
	Raising Skills in Tees Valleyproviding a package of support for businesses and individuals aimed at driving demand for skills and generating sustainable economic growth in Tees Valley.
	Tees Valley Area Tourism Partnershipcurrently in development. This provides a holistic package of support for tourism businesses in the region, encompassing business support in conjunction with Business Link branded services, product development and marketing support, and skills development. These significant catalysing activities will stimulate the tourism and hospitality sector in Tees Valley, generating sustainable growth in a key sector for the North East.
	Businesses and individuals in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland are benefiting from Business Link's support as the recent performance demonstrates:
	
		
			  Start-ups Established businesses 
		
		
			 200304 73 227 
			 200405 130 268 
			 2005-present (February) 183 331 
		
	
	In addition, businesses and individuals in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland have benefited from support, resulting in:
	1,097 jobs created or safeguarded
	866 businesses supported or advised
	7,423 people assisted in their skills development in Tees Valley since April 2005 as a result of sub-regional Single Programme investment.
	Throughout the region, an additional:
	11,520 jobs have been created or safeguarded
	10,089 businesses supported or advised
	55,043 individuals assisted in their skills development since April 2005
	As from September 2005, Business Link Tees Valley have spent 154,000 on providing 38 businesses with skills development training.
	Business Link Tees Valley also provides a Workforce Development events entitled 'Better People, Better Business' which attracted 41 attendees in February 2005 and 43 attendees in January 2006.

Company Law Reform Bill

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government intends to bring forward amendments to the Company Law Reform Bill to make companies accountable for their impact on (a) workers, (b) communities and (c) the environment.

Alun Michael: The Company Law Reform Bill is part of a wider programme of Government and market- led reform to support enterprise, encourage investment and promote long-term performance in order to ensure that Britain remains one of the best places in the world to set up and run a business.
	A key part of the Bill is the statutory statement of directors' duties. This will provide greater clarity on what is expected of directors. It will also recognise in statute that business prosperity and responsible business behaviour are two sides of the same coin: directors will be required to promote the success of the company in the collective best interests of shareholders, having regard to wider factors such as the interests of employees, the community and the environment. This will help directors to understand that they need to look beyond the short-term financial bottom line, but company law is not the right vehicle for addressing employment, community or environmental issues.

Consolidated Resource Accounts

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the nature was of the cases identified in the accountability notes on page 88 of his Consolidated Resource Accounts 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The nature of the cases identified on page 88 of the resource accounts are as follows:
	Losses
	These relate to:
	1. Amounts billed to customers, overpayments or repayable grants that have been categorised as no longer collectable, usually due to insolvency or excessive costs which would be incurred in pursuing further, and thus written off.
	They are broken down as follows:
	(a) Amounts billed to customers for servicessix cases in total, amounting to 2,261,655.24
	(b) Overpaymentseight cases in total, amounting to 89.00
	(c) Repayable grants22 cases in total, amounting to 382,526.95
	2. Stock losses and theft.
	10 cases in total, amounting to 2,785.05
	Special Payments
	These are broken down as follows:
	(a) Six payments of compensation paid by ACAS in relation to the termination of their employment, totalling 56,000. Further details can be found at page 88 of the ACAS Annual Report 200405 (http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/0/0/Acas Annual Report0405_l.pdf).
	(b) Three payments to ex-members of DTI staff following claims to the Civil Service Appeals Board, amounting to 33,487.30.
	(c) One payment of ex-gratia compensation to a potential supplier whose application was not properly considered, amounting to 5,000.
	(d) Miscellaneous payments to DTI staff for damage to property, personal injury and miscalculations of entitlement amounting to 78,274.53.

Debt Management

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding the Government provide to advice agencies for debt management programmes and support; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Free, impartial debt advice helps consumers regain control of their finances, staves off over-indebtedness and improves consumers' financial capability. The Government are working closely with the sector to increase capacity and improve co-ordination among advice agencies, with a particular focus on ensuring that financially excluded and vulnerable consumers are able to access timely and appropriate advice.
	DTI administers the 45 million Face-To-Face Debt Advice Project, funded through the Financial Inclusion Fund. Bids by advice agencies are currently being evaluated with the aim of announcing successful organisations in April. DTI also contributes 1 million per annum to National Debtline and has supported the development of the Debt Advice Helpline (pilot launched in February 2006). Other Government Departments also provide funding for debt advice, for example the Legal Services Commission is administering the Financial Inclusion Fund 6 million project piloting debt advice outreach approaches.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed by the (a) Postal Services Commission, (b) Office of Fair Trading, (c) Insolvency Service, (d) Patent Office Agency, (e) Companies House, (f) Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, (g) Office of Gas and Electricity Market, (h) National Weights and Measures Laboratory, (i) Department of Trade and Industry, (j) Small Business Service and (k) Employment Tribunal Service in each region in each of the last 12 months for which data are available; and how many and what percentage of posts were vacant in each month.

Alan Johnson: The information is as follows.
	Employment:
	The employment figures requested are published in Civil Service Statistics. Table A covers staff numbers both on a F.T.E. (full time equivalent) and a headcount basis. Civil Service Statistics are available in the Library and at the following address on the Cabinet Office Statistics website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/index.asp.
	Vacancies:
	
		(a) Number of vacancies in Postcomm covering the period February 2005 to January 2006
		
			 Month Number of vacancies Percentage 
		
		
			 February 2005 4 7.27 
			 March 2005 4 7.01 
			 April 2005 2 3.38 
			 May 2005 2 3.44 
			 June 205 3 4.83 
			 July 2005 6 9.83 
			 August 2005 3 5.08 
			 September 2005 5 8.33 
			 October 2005 5 7.81 
			 November 2005 9 14.28 
			 December 2005 9 14.06 
			 January 2006 9 14.06 
		
	
	Note:
	The Postal Services Commission is based in one office in London.
	
		(h) Number of vacancies in National Weights and Measures Laboratory covering the period March 2005 to February 2006
		
			 Month Number of vacancies Percentage 
		
		
			 March 2005 0 0 
			 April 2005 0 0 
			 May 2005 0 0 
			 June 205 0 0 
			 July 2005 0 0 
			 August 2005 0 0 
			 September 2005 0 0 
			 October 2005 0 0 
			 November 2005 0 0 
			 December 2005 0 0 
			 January 2006 0.6 1.27 
			 February 2006 0.6 1.27 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Weights and Measures Laboratory are based in one office in London
	
		(i) Number of vacancies in Department of Trade and Industry covering the period March 2005 to February 2006
		
			 Month Number of vacancies Percentage 
		
		
			 March 2005 35 1.0 
			 April 2005 (33) (33) 
			 May 2005 9 0.27 
			 June 2005 30.8 0.94 
			 July 2005 35.5 1.09 
			 August 2005 30 0.92 
			 September 2005 41.1 1.48 
			 October 2005 57 1.75 
			 November 2005 61 1.87 
			 December 2005 50 1.54 
			 January 2006 24 0.75 
			 February 2006 29 0.91 
		
	
	(33)No figures available.
	Note:
	Vacancy figures are only collated for the Department of Trade and Industry as a whole. A regional analysis of vacancies could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
	
		(j) Number of vacancies in Small Business Service covering the period March 2005 to February 2006
		
			 Month Number of vacancies Percentage 
		
		
			 March 2005 6 2.04 
			 April 2005 (34) (34) 
			 May 2005 0 0 
			 June 2005 7 2.92 
			 July 2005 5 2.08 
			 August 2005 3 1.27 
			 September 2005 10 3.51 
			 October 2005 5 1.77 
			 November 2005 4 1.45 
			 December 2005 5 2.38 
			 January 2006 2 0.93 
			 February 2006 2 1 
		
	
	(34)No figures available.
	Note:
	Vacancy figures are only collated for the Small Business Service as a whole. A regional analysis of vacancies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Vacancy information on the remaining bodies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Energy

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential of (a) clean coal technologies, (b) renewables, (c) nuclear and (d) other forms of energy to contribute to the Government's plans to generate cleaner energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government recognise the potential of clean coal, renewables, nuclear and other low carbon technologies to contribute to the drive to generate cleaner energy.
	The Government are currently carrying out an energy review, which will look at the potential role of a variety of low carbon technologies in helping the UK meet its medium and long term energy policy goals. However, the Government have made clear that there is no one single solution to the challenge of climate change and meeting our other Energy White Paper goals.

Fuel Prices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the likely average household fuel bill in December 2006.

Malcolm Wicks: Following the price increases announced by some energy suppliers in February 2006, energywatch have estimated the typical standard credit energy bill will be 527 for gas and 342 for electricity, giving a total bill of 869.
	Actual December 2006 bills will be affected by a number of factors, including the number of customers switching supplier and/or payment methods and future tariff changes from the energy suppliers.

Fuel Prices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the EU's Competition Commissioner on changes in fuel prices and the competitiveness of energy suppliers in theUK.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend's the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Chancellor of the Exchequer wrote to Neelie Kroes, the European Competition Commissioner for Competition in December to support a request from Sir John Mogg, head of OFGEM, for an immediate investigation into possible links between the lack of competition in EU energy markets and recent price volatility in the UK gas market.
	Commissioner Kroes agreed to undertake the investigation and we expect the results very soon.

Fuel Prices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on consumers of rising fuel prices.

Malcolm Wicks: Despite the energy price increases that have taken place since 2004, UK gas and electricity prices remain below the median price of the EU15 member states. Expenditure stood at an average level of around 3 per cent. of household income in 200405, the most recent date available. However, it is important that all consumers ensure that, while properly heating their homes, they minimise their energy expenditure. They can do this by choosing the most appropriate supplier and tariff, paying by the cheapest appropriate payment method (usually direct debit), and taking energy efficiency measures.
	Rising energy prices have a disproportionately large effect on low-income customers. Analysis of overall effects of changes in fuel prices and incomes, excluding consideration of energy efficiency improvements, suggest that the total number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty is likely to rise by around 1 million households in England between 2003 and 2006. Our fuel poverty programmes help the most vulnerable in society to lower their energy bills by providing heating and insulation measures and Benefit Entitlement Checks. Government has made available an additional 300 million over 200508 to supplement these programmes in the light of rising energy prices. The industry's Home Heat Helpline also provides advice and assistance.

Hearing Loss Claims

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many costs payments have been refused for cases by (a) Berefords solicitors, (b) Bakewell solicitors, (c) Heptonstall solicitors, (d) Brown and Co. solicitors, (e) Ollerenshaw solicitors and (f) UDM/Vendside for noise-induced hearing loss claims to his Department due to a breach of section 4 (2)c of the Conditional Fee Agreement Regulations 2000.

Malcolm Wicks: In the case of the UDM/Vendside, there is no conditional fee agreement and no dispute over costs. For the other named solicitors, this information is not readily available. Miners' hearing loss claims are not schemed so solicitors' costs for each claim are dealt with on their own merits. Concerns relating to a breach of regulation 4 of the conditional fee regulations would be raised as part of the negotiations on the appropriate level of costs for any given claim.

Media Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by his Department on media training in each year since 199798.

Alan Johnson: Records held centrally do not distinguish between media training and other forms of training undertaken by DTI staff and the requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Military Equipment (Export Controls)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export control the Government places upon British companies with overseas subsidiaries in relation to (a) military equipment, (b) components for military equipment and (c) all other goods and services supplied by their subsidiary.

Malcolm Wicks: UK export controls apply to all exports from the UK of all goods and technologies on the UK Control List regardless of whether the exporter has a subsidiary outside the UK. UK export controls do not apply to exports made from countries outside the UK, whether by UK subsidiaries or otherwise. UK trade controls apply to the arranging of transfers of military goods between third countries where the transfer is arranged from the UK. In certain cases these controls may apply to transfers arranged by UK persons wherever they are based (for full details see the guidance on the Export Control Organisation website http://www.dti.gov.uk/export.control/publications.htm.

Military Equipment (Export Controls)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to regulate the export of components from UK companies which are or could be used for military equipment supplied to a recipient to whom the UK has resolved not to export military equipment.

Malcolm Wicks: UK export controls apply to all exports from the UK of all goods and technologies on the UK Control List. The UK also controls the export to destinations subject to EU, OSCE or UN embargo of dual-use items not otherwise subject to control where the exporter has been informed that they are or may be intended for military end-use.

Ministerial Activities

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period.

Alan Johnson: I made (a) 44 public speeches, (b) 17 official visits and (c) sent 2,671 letters in this period.

National Grid (Orkney and Shetland)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to improve the National Grid connections to Orkney and Shetland to enable the export of energy from those locations; and what assessment he has made of the cost of such improvements.

Malcolm Wicks: It is for National Grid to decide what investments are needed to improve the electricity transmission networks in line with their licence conditions. As a natural monopoly, this is done, with agreement from Ofgem, as part of their regulated price control. Ofgem are currently consulting on National Grid's next price control which will commence in 2007.

OECD Guidelines

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) UK owned and (b) UK based transnational corporations adhere to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 7 March 2006
	The Government are committed to the effective promotion and implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The UK's National Contact Point (NCP) recently met stakeholders, including business representatives and UK companies, as part of the consultation on improving promotion and implementation. The Government's response is due shortly.

Potash Industry

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department gives to promote the European potash industry.

Ian Pearson: The UK has supported the opening of an expiry review of the existing anti-dumping duties on potash. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the existing anti-dumping measures need to be extended. The review should be concluded by no later than July 2006 but in the meantime the existing measures stay in force. The Department and the regional agencies continue to have an active dialogue with the only UK producer of potash on this and other issues.

Private Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of his private office was in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The cost of my private office for the financial year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 was 409,000.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1744W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), on regional development agencies, what the allocated funding was of each office outside the UK for 200506; and where each office was located.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1550W.

Shoe Imports (China/Vietnam)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's position is on tariffs being imposed by the EU on shoes imported from China and Vietnam.

Ian Pearson: I am examining carefully a proposal by the European Commission to impose anti-dumping duties on footwear with uppers of leather originating in China and Vietnam. I am also consulting a wide range of UK interests, including retailers, importers and producers. Following the Commission's explanation of its proposal and discussion with member states at the 9 March meeting of the official-level Anti-Dumping Committee, the UK will present its position at the Anti-Dumping Committee meeting scheduled for 16 March.

Thames Gateway

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in developing a Thames Gateway economic statement.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been working with the three Thames Gateway Regional Development Agencies, the Thames Gateway Sub-Regional Partnerships and the Learning and Skills Council on producing an economic statement for the Thames Gateway. An audit of economic development activity across the Gateway was presented to the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership in early February.
	Later this year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish a Strategic Framework for the Gateway, which will have at its core the economic rationale and vision for the Thames Gateway.

Working Time Directive

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the EU working time directive on the retirement age.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are not aware of any effect of the EU working time directive on retirement age.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Acute Hospitals

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what policy each acute hospital in Northern Ireland has regarding smoking within the precincts of their premises.

Shaun Woodward: Currently Trusts operate a variety of polices regarding smoking within the precincts of their premises as outlined in the following table.
	All Trusts not currently operating smoke-free policies will be undertaking a review of their policies with the aim of bringing them into line with the smoke-free legislation, due to be introduced in April 2007.
	
		
			 Trust Current smoking policy 
		
		
			 Royal Group of Hospitals Trust Smoking is permitted in a number of designated areas. 
			 Belfast City Hospitals Trust Smoking is forbidden within all Trust facilities. 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital HSS Trust Two designated smoking areas exist outside of the main building for patients who wish to smoke. One designated area within the buildings is used by staff, this area is away from patient and public areas. 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust Smoking is not permitted in any enclosed facilities except in exceptional circumstances. 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the Trust premises, grounds and Trust vehicles. 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust Smoking is not permitted in any Trust Building, including at entrances and exits or in any Trust vehicles. 
			 Green Park HSS Trust Smoking is currently permitted in a number of designated smoking rooms and within the grounds. 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust Smoking is not permitted in any enclosed facilities except in exceptional circumstances. 
			 Mater Infirmorum HSS Trust Smoking is not permitted in any enclosed facilities except in exceptional circumstances. 
			 Causeway HSS Trust Smoking is not permitted in any enclosed facilities except in exceptional circumstances. 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust Smoking is forbidden within all Trust facilities. 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust Smoking is permitted in a number of designated areas.

Ballymena-Londonderry Rail Line

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) accidents and (b) deaths and injuries resulting from them have occurred on the rail line between Ballymena and Londonderry in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Translink has advised that there have been a total of four accidents on the rail line between Ballymena and Londonderry over the five year period with details of fatalities and injuries as follows:
	
		
			  Number of accidents Killed Injured 
		
		
			 2005 0 0 0 
			 2004(35) 3 3 0 
			 2003 0 0 0 
			 2002(36) 1 0 7 
			 2001 0 0 0 
		
	
	(35)One person died when the car they were driving was struck at a level crossing (Woodstown Crossing); one person died (suicide) when they fell from a train door (Galdanagh Crossing, Killagan); one member of staff died when he fell from a moving train (Eglinton).
	(36)One member of staff seriously injured and six passengers slightly injured when a train derailed after striking a boulder that had dislodged from an adjacent cliff face (Downhill).

Block Grant

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the block grant for Northern Ireland was in each of the last 30 years in real terms at today's prices; and what the percentage change was in each year.

Angela Smith: The first full year of block grant allocations for Northern Ireland was 200001. The figures, based on those taken from the audited Public Income and Expenditure Accounts, are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Block Grant(37) Percentage increase 
		
		
			 200001 8,402,893,197  
			 200102 8,857,618,663 +5.41 
			 200203 8,370,250,791 -5.50 
			 200304 8,892,846,485 +6.24 
			 200405 9,162,741,500 +3.03 
		
	
	(37)Stated in real terms using the GDP Deflator.

Car Ownership

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of people who do not own a car in each ward in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: It is not possible to answer the question exactly as asked. The table giving the number of people who live in households that have no access to cars or vans in each electoral ward in Northern Ireland from the 2001 Census and the percentage of the household population they represent, has been placed in the Library.

Electricity Supply (Limavady)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006 to question 53489, on how many occasions payments have been made to consumers in the Carrowclare road area of Limavady in the last two years; and whether reasons have been established for the interruptions to electricity supply in that period.

Angela Smith: Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has advised that no payments have been made to consumers in the Carrowclare road area of Limavady as a result of interruptions to their electricity supply in the last two years, as none of these lasted for a continuous period of 24 hours.
	Eight of the 16 interruptions to the electricity supply in the period were the result of birds striking an overhead electric line, and possibly also another four of the interruptions where NIE was unable to identify the cause. Of the remaining four interruptions, two were theresult of third party damage, one involved planned work by NIE, and the other was the result of NIE equipment failure.

Emergency Calls

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 999 callouts of ambulance personnel were found to be bogus in Northern Ireland during 2005.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service does not use the term bogus in this context. However, the following table lists the instances during 2005 where an ambulance response was stopped at somepoint during the call or where no patient was transported.
	
		
			 Reason incident stopped Number of incidents 
		
		
			 Caller hung up without details 1,985 
			 Hoax caller 4,301 
			 No case at scene 739 
			 Nothing found at scene 1,784 
			 Patient absconded 210 
			 Total 9,019

Emergency Services

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of ambulance emergency callouts from each main ambulance station in Northern Ireland during 2005 was accounted for by bogus telephone calls.

Shaun Woodward: The following table provides date for all Northern Ireland Ambulance Service locations from which AE ambulances are sent to emergency calls. Data shown for control areas refer to incidents to which rapid response vehicles or officers' cars have responded.
	
		
			 AE ambulance home station Total calls Calls where ambulance recalled or no patient transported Percentage 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Ambulance Station 6,690 198 3 
			 Antrim Ambulance Station 3,185 76 2 
			 Ardoyne Ambulance Station 9,053 304 3 
			 Armagh Ambulance Station 3,008 101 3 
			 Ballycastle Ambulance Station 861 16 2 
			 Ballymena Ambulance Station 4,456 95 2 
			 Ballymoney Ambulance Station 1,716 42 2 
			 Banbridge Ambulance Station 892 32 4 
			 Bangor Ambulance Station 5,916 152 3 
			 Broadway Ambulance Station 12,739 503 4 
			 Carrickfergus Ambulance Station 1,828 35 2 
			 Castlederg Ambulance Station 452 15 3 
			 Coleraine Ambulance Station 3,335 78 2 
			 Cookstown Ambulance Station 1,630 40 2 
			 Craigavon Ambulance Station 5,326 157 3 
			 Downpatrick Ambulance Station 3,277 80 2 
			 Dungannon Ambulance Station 2,838 101 4 
			 Eastern Control Area 1,689 52 3 
			 Enniskillen Ambulance Station 2,495 74 3 
			 Kilkeel Ambulance Station 765 32 4 
			 Larne Ambulance Station 3,109 83 3 
			 Limavady Ambulance Station 1,323 40 3 
			 Lisburn Ambulance Station 4,693 146 3 
			 Magherafelt Ambulance Station 1,765 38 2 
			 Newcastle Ambulance Station 1,162 39 3 
			 Newry Ambulance Station 3,821 147 4 
			 Newtownards Ambulance Station 4,667 118 3 
			 NIAS Headquarters 229 12 5 
			 North Control Area 127 1 1 
			 Omagh Ambulance Station 2,405 72 3 
			 Purdysburn Ambulance Station 3,984 112 3 
			 South Control Area 15 0 0 
			 Strabane Ambulance Station 1,357 71 5 
			 Templemore Avenue Belfast 5,556 129 2 
			 West Control Area 37 2 5 
			 Whiteabbey Ambulance Station 3,988 93 2 
			 Total 110,389 3,286 3

Employment Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of people were involved in the social economy in each (a) ward, (b) county and (c) constituency in Northern Ireland in 200405.

Angela Smith: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) does not hold statistical information on the number of people in the NI social economy. However, as the Department with lead responsibility for developing a more integrated approach to the sector, DETI plans to undertake and publish the results of the first Biennial Survey of social economy enterprises in NI in 200607.

Employment Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the economic inactivity rates were for each ward in Northern Ireland in the latest period for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The table giving the number of 16 to 74-year-olds who are economically inactive in each electoral ward in Northern Ireland from the 2001 Census and the percentage of the population they represent, has been placed in the Library.
	In the 2001 Census a person was defined as economically inactive if (i) they were retired, a student (excludes those students who were working or in some other way were economically active), looking after a family or home, permanently sick or disabled, or (ii) if they were looking for work but were not available to start work within two weeks.

Energy Surveys

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated to energy surveys and courses in Northern Ireland over the last four years; how much of this was spent on consultants based in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain; and if he will use more Northern Ireland based consultants for such work.

Angela Smith: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) has over the past four years funded two strategic energy surveys valued at 133,840. None of this expenditure was spent on consultants based in Northern Ireland and 51,000 was spent on consultants based in Great Britain.
	Spend on energy surveys and training courses for businesses in Northern Ireland is managed for the whole of the UK by the Carbon Trust. Information on the amount of spend split between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is not readily available.
	In procuring consultancy, Carbon Trust select on the basis of having the skill sets and competency necessary to complete the assignment. The number of Northern Ireland based consultants that have registered for inclusion on the Carbon Trust list with the necessary skills and competency remains low.

Engagements

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period.

Peter Hain: The information sought can be provided only at disproportionate cost. I would however advise that the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/peers correspondence. The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 137140WS). Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House. The report for 2005 will be published in due course.

Farm Subsidies

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers in Foyle constituency have yet to receive their Integrated Admission and Control System (IACS) payment for 2005; and how many applications from farmers in the Foyle constituency who have applied for the Countryside Management Scheme are being held up because they have yet to receive their 2005 IACS payment.

Angela Smith: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development does not hold details of subsidy payments on a constituency basis. To date 87 per cent. (36,267 claims) of interim payments under the 2005 Single Farm Payment Scheme have been processed. At this point 5,383 cases are outstanding. In general, IACS queries do not hold up the processing of Countryside Management Scheme applications.

Home Education

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in Northern Ireland have been educated at home in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education does not collect the information requested.
	The Education and Library Boards hold information about children being educated at home, which are made known to them. They do not hold all the information requested, however the following table gives details provided by them in relation to each of the last four years:
	
		
			 Board area 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 BELB n/a 3 8 6 
			 WELB 5 6 6 8 
			 NEELB 48 54 43 54 
			 SEELB 5 3 5 22 
			 SELB 64 68 67 68 
			 Total 122 134 129 158 
		
	
	n/a=not available.
	The boards have advised that some children in 200506 may also be contained in figures for the previous years as they have been educated at home for some time.

InterTrade Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the executive staff of InterTradeIreland are based in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

Angela Smith: InterTradeIreland currently employs 38 permanent staff. All are based in Northern Ireland.

InterTrade Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the expenditure of InterTradeIreland is estimated to be for 200506; and what percentage is made up of (a) staff (i) salaries, (ii)expenses and (iii) pension costs and (b) other staff costs.

Angela Smith: The estimates of expenditure for 2006, InterTradeIreland's current operating year, are set out as follows.
	
		
			million Percentage 
		
		
			  Total expenditure 10.219 100 
			 
			 (a) Staff   
			 (i) salaries 1.400 14 
			 (ii) expenses 0.045 0.5 
			 (iii) pension costs 0. 082 1 
			 
			 (b) Other staff costs 0.095 1

InterTradeIreland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of the executive staff of InterTradeIreland are identified as being from each category of religious background.

Angela Smith: At 1 March 2006, InterTradeIreland employed 38 permanent staff. The religious backgrounds of these staff have been identified as follows.
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Catholic 31 81 
			 Protestant 6 16 
			 Non-determined 1 3

Literacy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the literacy levels were in each (a) ward, (b) constituency and (c) county in Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available, listed in descending order.

Angela Smith: Information relating to adult literacy levels in Northern Ireland is not available at local Government district, parliamentary constituency or county level.
	The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), which was conducted in 1996, indicated that the literacy levels of the adult population in Northern Ireland where Level 1 is the lowest level is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Level 1: 24 
			 Level 2: 30 
			 Level 3: 31 
			 Level 4 to 5: 15 
		
	
	In response to the IALS report, the Department for Employment and Learning launched the essential skills for living strategy in October 2002 and has met its interim target of supporting 25,000 adults to improve their levels of literacy and numeracy by March 2005.

Local Councils (Discrimination)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of discrimination on the grounds of (a) religious belief and (b) political opinion have been found against local councils in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Complaints of discrimination on the grounds of religious belief and political opinion are registered as the same jurisdiction. The number of cases of discrimination on the grounds of religious belief and political opinion which have been found against local councils in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 2001 0 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 2 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 0 
		
	
	The decision on the 2004 case was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Local Enterprise Centres

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to determine where local enterprise centres are located; what mechanisms are in place to ensure that local enterprise centres are located proportionately between nationalist and unionist areas of Northern Ireland; and how many local enterprise centres are located in predominantly (a) unionist and (b) nationalist areas.

Angela Smith: Local Enterprise Agencies (LEAs) in Northern Ireland were developed under the Local Enterprise Programme which commenced in 1982 and was completed in the late 1990s. 32 agencies were createdone agency in each of the 26 local council areas in Northern Ireland, two in Londonderry, one on each bank of the River Foyle and six in Belfast, to be operated by a local group with cross-community representatives.
	LEAs were not developed to specifically service nationalist or unionist communities but to support the entire community.

Mussenden Temple (Londonderry)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Northern Ireland Tourist Board plans to promote and market the historicMussenden Temple site at Downhill, County Londonderry.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) plans to promote and market the Mussenden Temple site at Downhill.
	This will be achieved through the development and promotion of tourism in the context of the Tourism Strategic Framework for Action 200407 and the Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism Masterplan.
	Currently the NITB is implementing recommendations from within the prioritized actions of the masterplan. A key recommendation is the implementation of the Causeway Coastal Route which has been identified as a primary promotional message/key motivator to attract visitors to Northern Ireland and specifically to retain them along the North Coast and wider region.
	This touring route will direct visitors to the North Coast and offer them the opportunity to visit attractions such as the Mussenden Temple.
	The Causeway Coastal Route has been included in all marketing initiatives for 2006.

Primary Schools

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many surplus places there are in primary schools in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Based upon 2005 enrolments, there are an estimated 33,600 surplus places in primary schools throughout the parliamentary constituencies. The individual details are as follows.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Number of surplus places 
		
		
			 Belfast East 2,050 
			 Belfast North 3,500 
			 Belfast South 2,400 
			 Belfast West 3,450 
			 East Londonderry 1,700 
			 Foyle 2,150 
			 Fermanagh/South Tyrone 2,100 
			 East Antrim 1,300 
			 Lagan Valley 1,650 
			 Mid-Ulster 500 
			 Newry and Armagh 1,700 
			 North Antrim 2,200 
			 North Down 1,550 
			 South Antrim 1,850 
			 South Down 1,250 
			 Strangford 1,050 
			 Upper Bann 1,600 
			 West Tyrone 1,600 
			 Total 33,600

Queen's Birthday

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to celebrate Her Majesty's 80th birthday; what advice he has issued to his Department's executive agencies on celebrations for the birthday; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: In Northern Ireland the Union flag will be hoisted to celebrate Her Majesty's 80th birthday on 21 April. The Secretary of State also intends to be present at national celebrations for Her Majesty's birthday.

Sports Council for Northern Ireland

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding the Sports Council for Northern Ireland has received for preparation for the next Olympic games.

David Hanson: Under the Recreation and Youth Services Order (Northern Ireland) 1986 the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is statutorily responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland, including the distribution of public funding to sport. It receives both exchequer and lottery funding for this purpose. Among its programmes, it already has in place an Athlete Support programme which is designed to assist identified sportspeople to achieve greater success in targeted international competition, including the Olympic games. During 200506 the SCNI has so far committed 248,150 to athletes on the elite level of the Athlete Support programme. At present two individuals involved in sailing and two elite hockey squads are in receipt of funding from the SCNI in relation to preparations with the ultimate aim of competition in the next Olympic games. The total budget for the Athlete Support programme for the years 200607 and 200708 is 600,000 per annum.

Tourism

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much financial support was available to each regional tourism organisation in each of the last five years; how much of that support came from EU funds; from which EU funds it came; and whatthe budgeted figures are for the 200607 financial year.

Angela Smith: The table shows the total financial support made available to the 5 Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) and Sperrins Tourism from funding administered by Government Departments over the past 5 years.
	Funding for RTOs is not budgeted for within EU Programmes open for applications for financial support. Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has no plans to provide financial support to the RTOs in 200607, however a budget of 500,000 from core funds has been set to provide financial assistance to the four Regional Tourism Partnerships.
	
		Annex A
		
			  Grant awarded 
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 Total 
		
		
			 Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau   
			 NITB support   
			 EU Peace II 4.2a(38) 338,446.68 396,000.00 1,682,803.87 802,437.26 1,135,471.09 4,355,158.90 
			 EU Peace II 4.2b(39) 81,625.00 81,625.00 
			 EU BSP l.3a(40) 79,200.00 80,800.00 80,000.00 100,000.00 100,000.00 440,000.00 
			 Total 417,646.68 476,800.00 1,762,803.87 902,437.26 1,317,096.09 4,876,783.90 
			
			 Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau   
			 NITB support   
			 EU Peace II 4.2a 107,974.74 93,626.80 90,672.45 80,010.45 94,320.00 466,604.44 
			 DFP Support   
			 EU Peace II 3. 1(41)   86,753.00   86,753.00 
			 Total 107,974.74 93,626.80 177,425.45 80,010.45 94,320.00 553,357.44 
			
			 Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism   
			 NITB support   
			 EU Peace II 4.2a 139,090.25 138,892.39 123,003.63 109,988.87 112,748.06 623,723.20 
			
			
			 Kingdoms of Down   
			 NITB support EU   
			 Peace II 4.2a 200,000.00 199,990.20 196,487.29 174,996.85 224,332.00 995,806.34 
			
			 Causeway Coast and Glens EU   
			 NITB support   
			 Peace II 4.2a 188,139.25 188,109.51 187,128.21 155,015.28 201,359.75 919,752.00 
			 Totals for the 5 RTOs 1,052,850.92 1,097,418.90 2,446,848.45 1,422,448.71 1,949,855.90 7,969,422.88 
			
			 Sperrins Tourism   
			 NITB support   
			 EU Peace II 4.2a 43,800.00 47,560.99 0.00 48,087.72 56,917.00 196,365.71 
			 EU BSP l.3a 30,000.00 37,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 22,500.00 149,500.00 
			
			 DFP Support   
			 EU Peace II 6.2a(42)  510,808.00510,808.00 
			 Total 73,800.00 595,368.99 30,000.00 78,087.72 79,417.00 856,673.71 
			
			 Totals for 5 RTOs and Sperrins 1,126,650.92 1,692,787.89 2,476,848.45 1,500,536.43 2,029,272.90 8,826,096.59 
		
	
	(38)EU Peace II 4.2aThe EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of IrelandPriority 4Outward and Forward Looking RegionMeasure 2aMarketing the Region as a Tourism Destination.
	(39)EU Peace II 4.2bThe EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of IrelandPriority 4Outward and Forward Looking RegionMeasure 2aEnhancing the Region as a Tourism Destination
	(40)EU BSP 1.3aThe EU Programme for Building Sustainable ProsperityPriority 1Economic Growth and CompetitivenessMeasure 3aTourism Strategic Marketing
	(41)EU Peace II 3.1The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of IrelandPriority 3Locally-based Regeneration and Development StrategiesMeasure 1Local Economic Initiatives for Developing the Social Economy (NI)
	(42)EU Peace II 6.2aThe EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of IrelandPriority 6Technical AssistanceMeasure 2aManagement, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programme and Co-ordination with other Programmes.

Tourism

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what economic importance the Government attaches to tourism and the work of regional tourism organisations.

Angela Smith: The government attaches considerable importance to tourism, given its potential to make a significant contribution to the NI economy. This was recognised in the Government's Economic Vision document which highlights our commitment to enhance the appeal of Northern Ireland as an attractive tourism destination and a welcoming and accommodating place where people want to visit, live and work.
	The existing regional tourism organisations have played an important role in promoting tourism in their areas. They are to be superseded by Regional Tourism Partnerships with a broader role in line with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's Strategic Framework for Action. Regional Tourism Partnerships are regarded as having a key role to play in the realisation of Northern Ireland's potential as a tourist destination.

Translink

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps Translink is taking to (a) reduce dependency in its bus fleet on diesel and (b) increase the use of cleaner fuels.

Shaun Woodward: I am told by Translink that all vehicles in the Translink fleet currently operate on low sulphur diesel. From April 2006, a change in supplier will permit Translink to run a trial using a bio-diesel blend. No further plans are currently in hand but Translink is monitoring other developments including hybrid drive systems and fuel cell technology, but none is currently considered to offer a cost-effective option.

Unmanned Rail Crossings

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on (a) the improvement and (b) the maintenance of safety measures at unmanned crossing points on the rail line between Ballymena and Londonderry in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Translink has advised that the following amounts have been spent by Northern Ireland Railways on improvements and maintenance at unmanned crossings between Ballymena and Londonderry.
	
		
		
			  Capital works and improvement measures Maintenance Total annual expenditure 
		
		
			 200001 509 98,400 90,909 
			 200102 182,078 91,200 273,278 
			 200203 263,774 109,200 372,974 
			 200204 311,807 76,200 388,007 
			 200405 314,846 74,400 389,246 
			 Total 1,522,414

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Allotments

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new allotments he has agreed to in each local government area in each of the last three years; and how many have closed over the same period.

Phil Woolas: Under the Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908 it is for each local authority to decide on the level of allotments provision in their area. The Government do not collect information centrally on the closure of allotments on an annual basis.

Best Value Performance Data

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the next publication of outturn best value performance data.

Phil Woolas: Outturn best value performance data will be published later this month on www.bvpi.gov.uk.

Building Regulations

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish details of the alterations to Part L of the Building Regulations for England and Wales, set to come into force in April 2006.

Yvette Cooper: In the press release of 13 September 2005 I announced that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was introducing the changes to Part L of the building regulations two years early in April 2006. The statutory instrument is intended to be laid and the final approved documents will be published in sufficient time to allow this to happen.

Complaints

Nick Hurd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what official guidelines apply to the treatment of complaints against senior officers of local authorities.

Phil Woolas: The Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England) Regulations 2001 provide that, where it appears to an authority that an allegation of misconduct by its chief executive, monitoring officer or chief finance officer requires to be investigated, it must appoint a person to investigate the allegation. The regulations provide for that person to undertake various actions in respect of his or her investigation. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not issued any guidance in respect of these regulations.

Comprehensive Performance Assessment Scores

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) scores were for each council in England in each year since the establishment of CPA.

Phil Woolas: This is a matter for the Audit Commission. I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member and ensure the answer is made available in the Library of the House.

Council Tax

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the levels of council tax on (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 2006.

Phil Woolas: The average Band D council tax in England in May 1997 is included in Table 2.2e of Local Government Financial Statistics England No. 16 2005, a copy of which has been made available in the Library of the House. It is also available at:
	http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfs/2005/lgfs16/h/lgfs16/xlsfiles/lgfs 162-2e.xls
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will have received 200607 budget returns from all authorities by 17 March and will be publishing this information on 27 March.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were employed by the (a) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (b) Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, (c) Planning Inspectorate and (d) Fire Service College in each region in each of the last 12 months for which information is available; and how many and what percentage of posts were vacant in each month.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Figures and staff numbers (Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and headcount) are published as Table A in Civil Service Statistics. Civil Service Statistics are available in the Library and at the following address on the Cabinet Office Statistics website: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/index.asp
	Vacancies in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which are open to applicants outside the civil service in each month since September 2005 are tabled as follows:
	
		Office vacancies of the Deputy Prime Minister
		
			 Month/Year Number of vacancies 
		
		
			 September 2005 10 
			 October 2005 0 
			 November 2005 2 
			 December 2005 0 
			 January 2006 0 
			 February 2006 0 
			 March 2006 0 
		
	
	Figures cannot be broken down by region. Comparable figures are not collected and held by the ODPM for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Planning Inspectorate and Fire Service College.

Digital Radio

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether discussions with O2 Airwave Ltd have been concluded in respect of the contract for the new nationwide digital radio system for the fire and rescue service.

Jim Fitzpatrick: On 11 November 2005 it was announced that 62 Airwave was the preferred bidder for the Firelink contract. Discussions are continuing with 62 Airwave with a view to achieving contract signature.

Efficiency Measurement

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the membership of the Local Government Efficiency Measurement Taskforce is; how often the taskforce has met; what conclusions it has reached; when it is due to produce a guidance note; and whether this note will be made public.

Phil Woolas: The membership of the Taskforce comprises representatives from the following organisationsOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Audit Commission, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), Department of Culture Media and Sport, Department for Education and Skills, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Health, Department for Transport, Department of Work and Pensions, Employers Organisation, Highways Agency, HM Treasury, Improvement and Development Agency, Institute of Public Finance (IPF), the Local Government Association, Office of Government Commerce, Society of County Treasurers, Society of District Treasurers, Society of London Treasurers and the Society of Metropolitan Treasurers.
	The Taskforce has met seven times since February 2005.
	Guidance incorporating advice from the group was published in May 2005 on the 200506 backward look Annual Efficiency Statement (www.rce.gov.uk/rce/aio/12573), and February 2006 in relation to the 200607 forward-look Annual Efficiency Statement (www.rce.gov.uk/rce/aio/16540).

Efficiency Measurement

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has commissioned pursuant to section 3.12 of the Efficiency Technical Note for Local Government; when this is due to be received; and whether this research will be made publicly available.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned a study undertaken by INLOGOV of the university of Birmingham, supported by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). Provisional findings from that study were published last month in the guidance to councils on the 200607 forward-look Annual Efficiency Statements (www.rce.gov.uk/rce/aio/16540). The final results to the study will be disseminated through the ODPM's measurement toolkits, to be published in subsequent rounds of guidance on the completion of Annual Efficiency Statements.

Fire Service

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he plans to give to local fire authorities on the number and location of fire stations in (a) Peterborough and (b) other sustainable communities growth areas; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Fire and Rescue Authorities are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an integrated risk management plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. It is, therefore, for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority to determine appropriate fire cover in its area including the number and location of fire stations in (a) Peterborough and (b) other sustainable communities growth areas.
	It is also not the role of Ministers to agree the operational proposals in an authority's plan; that is for elected members of the authority concerned. They are best placed to act on the professional advice of principal officers and to balance the competing local demands on available resources for the benefits of the communities they serve.

Firefighters' Pay/Pension Scheme

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average firefighters' pay was in each of the last 25 years; and what the percentage increase in current prices was in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Firefighters' Pay/Pension Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to the Firefighter's Pension Scheme;
	(2)  what the proposed retirement age is for firefighters under the proposed changes to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme; and what the existing retirement age is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The minimum pension age for firefighters in the existing Firefighters' Pension Scheme is age 50 and the normal pension age 55. We are preparing a pension scheme for new entrants to the Fire and Rescue Service from April 2006. In the new scheme, which has been the subject of consultation, the minimum pension age will be age 55 and the normal pension age 60.
	Changes are being made to the existing scheme from April 2006 to ensure compliance with the new tax regime for pensions and to facilitate the new arrangements for financing firefighters' pensions which were announced through a written statement on 29 November 2005. We are also amending the basis on which ill-health pensions will be awarded: a firefighter who is permanently disabled from undertaking any of the duties of his role but is capable of other regular employment will be entitled to receive an unenhanced pension. The pension will be enhanced on the same basis as at present if the firefighter is unfit to undertake regular employment.
	As part of the changes needed to ensure the pension scheme is compliant with the new tax regime, we are establishing a separate compensation scheme for firefighters which will provide injury awards for firefighters on the same basis as is currently available in the Firefighters' Pension Scheme.

Firelink

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rules applied to the acceptance by his Department of hospitality from bidders during the process of awarding the Firelink contract; and what assessment he has made of compliance with such rules.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are standard departmental rules in relation to the acceptance of gifts, benefits and hospitality. The rules on the acceptance of hospitality are set out in the Staff Handbook. An overriding rule governing the acceptance of gifts, benefits and hospitality is that:
	conduct in a private capacity must not foster the suspicion of any conflict between your official duty and private interests; conduct whilst acting in an official capacity must not give the impressionto any member of the public, to any organisation with whom you deal or to your colleaguesthat you have been (or may have been) influenced by a gift or consideration to show favour or disfavour to any person or organisation;
	you must not accept any gifts, benefits or hospitalityeither directly or through a third party (i.e., a family member or friend) that would, or might appear to:
	place you under any obligation to an individual or organisation making the offer; compromise your impartiality or otherwise be improper;
	any gifts, benefits or hospitality must be refused if either you or the Office are in any doubt about the propriety of accepting them.
	The Permanent Secretary is final arbiter on the advisability of acceptance or refusal of gifts, hospitality, etc.
	I am assured that officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister adhered fully to these.

Firelink

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the role and responsibilities of Mr. Tom Carroll were in the procurement process relating to the Firelink contract.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Mr. Carroll had no direct role or responsibility in relation to the Firelink procurement. Mr. Carroll is the president of the Chief Fire Officers' Association for the period 30 April 2005 to 8 April 2006. The Association nominated a representative to act as senior user on the Firelink project board and to chair its Principal Users Group.

Graffiti

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what plans he has to extend the powers of local authorities to remove graffiti from (a) street furniture and (b) educational institutions;
	(2)  what plans he has to give local communities a formal mechanism to request and ensure that action is taken to remove graffiti.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are keen to improve the accountability between the police, local authorities and other service providers and the public. The Community Call for Action provisions contained in the Police and Justice Bill will give more power to local communities and provide a mechanism for local communities to demand a response from agencies to persistent local community safety or antisocial behaviour problems, via an approach to their ward councillor. The Respect programme will ensure effective dialogue between local people and services by introducing regular and systematic face the people briefing sessions, involving senior representation from the police and local authorities. These sessions will provide a further opportunity for communities to make clear their priorities and to hold those responsible for service delivery to account.
	They will also allow senior staff to engage the community in tackling local problems, raising issues where they can take action to help combat antisocial behaviour, including graffiti. In addition to this, the Home Office, in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is developing a new three digit single non-emergency number to provide the public direct access to community safety advice, information and action to tackle antisocial behaviour, including graffiti. The Government's commitment towards neighbourhood policing will benefit every area by 2008, enabling graffiti to be tackled as a priority when local communities identify this as one of their key concerns.

Local Authority Pensions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2005, Official Report, column 879W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), on local authority pensions, what estimate the Government have made of the expenditure of local authorities in England on the local government pension scheme in (a) 200607 and (b) each year from 199798 to 200405.

Phil Woolas: Contributions to the local government pension scheme (LGPS) by all LGPS employers in England from 199798 to 200405 total:
	
		Contributions to local government pension scheme
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 1,520 
			 199899 1,788 
			 19992000 1,972 
			 200001 2,273 
			 200102 2,617 
			 200203 2,916 
			 200304 3,217 
			 200405 3,544 
		
	
	It is estimated that local authority employers' expenditure will be about 80 per cent. of these costs.
	The 2004 actuarial valuation showed that LGPS employers in England were expected to contribute approximately 14 to 15 per cent. of pensionable payroll to the scheme in 200607. The actual total contribution will not be available until the end of 2007.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of local government revenue expenditure was financed through council tax in each year since 199697; and what the estimate is for 200506.

Phil Woolas: The percentage of local government revenue expenditure financed through council tax in England in each year since 199697 and the estimated figure for 200506 is listed in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 199697 22 
			 199798 24 
			 199899 25 
			 199900 25 
			 200001 25 
			 200102 25 
			 200203 25 
			 200304 25 
			 200405 26 
			 200506 25 
		
	
	Source:
	Revenue Summary (RS) returns to 2004 05 and Revenue Accounts (RA) budget
	returns for 200506.
	The table is produced on a non-Financial Reporting Standard (FRS17) basis.
	The definition of local government revenue expenditure used here is that expenditure funded from Aggregate External Finance (AEF), council tax and authorities' reserves. AEF is central government revenue funding that comprises Formula grant (Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed business rates and Police Grant), General Greater London Authority (GLA) Grant and specific grants inside AEF, i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for (a) the last date for local authorities, including police and fire, to notify his Department of their budgets and council tax precepts for 200607, (b) the publication by his Department of outturn council tax figures for 200607 and (c) the notification and designation of local authorities for capping in 200607.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows:
	(a) Local authorities are required, under section 52Y(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, to provide a completed Budget Requirement return to the Department within seven days of setting their budget requirement. In practice, the deadlines for the returns being received by the Department are 7 March each year for major precepting authorities (including single-service police and fire authorities) and 17 March for billing authorities.
	(b) The Department expects to publish budgeted council tax figures for 200607 in a statistical release on Monday 27 March. The figures should not change between budget and outturn unless a local authority subsequently sets a substitute budget under sections 31 or 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
	(c) My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, intends to determine capping principles after authorities have set their budget requirements.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of (a) the valuation of the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales and (b) the proportion of liabilities which were funded as of March 2005.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 548W.
	The most recent funding position was determined at the last actuarial valuation of the Local Government Pension Scheme funds on 31 March 2004. There will be no further update until the next actuarial valuation takes place on 31 March 2007.

Local Government Restructuring

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of restructuring local government in the Humberside county council area.

Phil Woolas: Information on the costs of restructuring local government is not held centrally. However, resources in the form of unsupported Supplementary Credit Approvals (SCAs) were available to reorganised authorities to meet the one off indirect costs of reorganisation. In the Humberside county council area these were as follows.
	
		 million
		
			  Outturn 
			  199596 199697 199798 199899 Total to LA 
		
		
			 Humberside County Council 2.92.9 
			 Kingston upon Hull Council 3.08 3.45 2.3 2345 11.175 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council 3.454 8.0 1.989 4255 17.698 
			 North Lincolnshire Council 2.992 2.919 1.8 3465 11.176 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2.95 4.112 1.9 1578 10.540 
			 County Total 15.376 18.481 7.989 11643 53.489

Local Government Restructuring

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the meetings that the Minister for Local Government has had with local authority (a) officials and (b) representatives on local government restructuring in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 2 March 2006, Official Report, columns 94142W.

Local Government Restructuring

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1875W, on unitary local government, whether the Government has commissioned further research into the cost of local government restructuring since 22 November 2005.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is in the process of commissioning research into the cost and benefits of a potential local government restructuring.

Local Government Wages

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2240W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), on local government wages, what estimate he has made of the cost of the local government pay bill for other local government staff, including (a) national insurance employer contributions and (b) pension costs in each year since 199899.

Phil Woolas: The estimated cost of (a) employer national insurance contributions and (b) employer pension contributions for other local government staff 1 since 199899 is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Pay(43) Employer national insurance contributions Employer pension contributions(44) ( billion) 
		
		
			 199899 10.768 0.800 1.025 
			 19992000 11.841 0.807 1.144 
			 200001 12.713 0.819 1.200 
			 200102 13.694 0.873 1.373 
			 200203 14.713 0.844 1.537 
			 200304 16.365 1.072 1.726 
			 200405 17.990 1.176 2.180 
		
	
	(43)This figure is pay only, as reported by local authorities and excludes national insurance employer contributions, employers' pension contributions, and employee related costs, but including overtime payments, bonuses, golden handshakes etc.
	(44)This covers employers' pension fund contributions for funded and notionally funded schemes, and should cover non-funded pension scheme payments, net of pension contributions made by employees. Net payments only in respect of commutations, refunds of contributions, and transfer values etc. relating to such schemes are also included.
	Figures are estimated from the Subjective Analysis Return (SAR), part of the Revenue Outturn (RO) suite of forms collected by ODPM from local authorities. The SAR is a sample survey and collects information from 121 authorities in England. The data have been grossed up to provide estimates for England as a whole.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changes in the method of reporting the information. In particular, the outturn data for 199697 to 200203 have been calculated on a non-FRS (financial reporting standard) 17 basis while the outturn data for 200304 and 200405 have been calculated on an FRS 17 basis. Hence, figures for different years may not be directly comparable.
	All data are as published in local government financial statistics or in national statistics releases as available from http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/index.htm.
	All figures are for England only.
	1 'Other local government staff' includes chief executives, chief financial officers, fire support staff, all non-teachers working in education as well as all other local government employees.

London Mayor

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to announce the results of his consultation on the powers of the London mayor; and if he will publish the evidence submitted.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The consultation exercise on proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor of London and London Assembly ended on 22 February 2006. Ministers are now considering the responses to consultation and will announce a final package of proposals in due course.
	In the consultation document Ministers gave a commitment to publish a summary of the responses to consultation by 22 May 2006.

Mobile Phone Masts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the study by the university of Reading and Arup commissioned by his Department into mobile phone masts.

Jim Fitzpatrick: On 2 March 2006, Official Report, column 33WS, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced the publication of the report by the university of Reading and Arup of their review of the code of best practice on mobile phone network development. Copies of the report have been made available in the Libraries of the House. Further copies can be downloaded from http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l163923.

Mobile Phone Masts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department has paid to fund the study by theuniversity of Reading and Arup on mobile phone masts.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The total cost of the research contract was 92,214 including value added tax. The Welsh Assembly Government contributed 4,000 to meeting the cost of the contract.

Monitoring Officers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) for what purpose monitoring officers are employed by local authorities; who monitors their performance; what the selection process is; and what qualifications are required;
	(2)  what the process is for employing the monitoring officers referred to in the Local Government Act 2000.

Phil Woolas: Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provides for every principal authority to designate one of its officers as a monitoring officer. The monitoring officer must report to the authority on any proposal, decision or omission by the authority which has given rise to, or is likely to give rise to, a breach of the law. The monitoring officer also gives advice to councillors about personal or prejudicial interests, conducts investigations into misconduct allegations and presents his or her findings to the local standards committee for its determination. Decisions on the designation, employment and management of monitoring officers are matters for local authorities.

Monitoring Officers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what appeals procedure is available for councillors who disagree with a monitoring officer's interpretation of a personal or prejudicial interest;
	(2)  what rights of appeal councillors have against judgments made by monitoring officers;
	(3)  what powers monitoring officers have to compel local authorities to take action against councillors.

Phil Woolas: Councillors are able to comment on the monitoring officer's findings following his or her investigation of an allegation of misconduct, and also to make representations to the local standards committee which determines misconduct cases referred to them by the monitoring officer. They can also appeal against the local standards committee's determination.
	While monitoring officers' roles include giving advice to councillors about personal or prejudicial interests, conducting investigations into misconduct allegations and presenting their findings to the local standards committee for its determination, they have no powers to compel local authorities to take action against councillors. Accordingly, there are no arrangements to appeal against monitoring officers' judgments.

National Interest Mapping Service Agreement

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the use of mapping products and services that have been wholly or partly funded under the National Interest Mapping Service Agreement in public procurement competitions.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 March 2006
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has both customer and shareholder relationships with Ordnance Survey. These are dealt with separately.
	The current National Interest Mapping Service Agreement (NIMSA) has supported the provision by Ordnance Survey of a number of services in the national interest. NIMSA contributes to the maintenance of the National Geospatial Database and the provision of other uneconomic activities in the national interest. NIMSA supports the maintenance of databases; it does not support the creation of products nor the dissemination of products derived from the databases.
	The services provided by NIMSA are typically available at no cost, not only to Government but also to professionals and the general public. They include formal education, providing information on geographic datasets, and provision of mapping in the event of emergencies.

National Interest Mapping Service Agreement

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of a potential competitive advantage for Ordnance Survey in the procurement for the Pan-Government Agreement due to funding from the National Interest Mapping Service Agreement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 March 2006
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has both customer and shareholder relationships with Ordnance Survey. These are dealt with separately.
	The current NIMSA concerns the maintenance of mapping databases and provision of services which are in the national interest but uneconomic to provide. The current Pan-Government Agreement (PGA) concerns the procurement of products and services on consistent licence terms across central Government.
	In all of its procurement activity ODPM seeks to avoid defining business requirements in such a way as to favour particular suppliers. The Pan-Government Agreement procurement is handled no differently. ODPM is committed to treating all potential suppliers fairly and ensuring to the best of its ability, a level playing field.

Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for how many days in 2005 he resided at his official residence in (a) Dorneywood and (b) Admiralty House.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Dorneywood is owned and operated by the Dorneywood Trust which is a registered charity, therefore there is no cost to public funds.

Planning (Thames Gateway)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local planning authorities in the Thames Gateway have an elected member nominated as the authority's design champion.

Yvette Cooper: Of the 18 local authorities (including county councils) in the Thames Gateway, information shows that 11 have an elected member as their design champion, two have officer level design champions and one further authority is in the process of appointing a design champion.

Planning (Thames Gateway)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how many new dwellings have received planning permission in the five strategic planning locations in the Thames Gateway since July 2003;
	(2)  how many new dwellings in the Thames Gateway have received planning consent since February 2003; and how many of these were subject to a design code.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, in May 2004 my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced a pilot programme on Design Coding to investigate various models and approaches for developing, adopting and implementing Design Codes, and to assess the potential benefits of Design Coding in the British context. Within the Thames Gateway area projects in London Royal Docks (West Silvertown), and Greenwich (Greenwich Millennium Village) have been examined as part of this research.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and CABE are producing guidance this year that will provide more detail on Design Codes; criteria for selecting an approach for particular circumstances; and how to achieve successful Design Codes.

Planning (Thames Gateway)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what obligations regarding quality of design are placed upon (a) developers and (b) the construction industry in relation to (i) new buildings and (ii) urban areas in the Thames Gateway.

Yvette Cooper: Good design and quality in construction are essential in creating and maintaining quality places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. This applies across the country.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policy in Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development (PPS1) sets out general principles and policies for planning, and makes it clear that good design is indivisible from good planning. PPS1 needs to be taken into account by all planning authorities in the preparation of development plans and it may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications.
	Obligations are also placed on the construction industry through Building Regulation. These are based on functional requirements and it is therefore open to the industry to achieve these requirements using different design approaches.
	In terms of the Thames Gateway specifically, the ODPM has asked the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment to carry out a piece of work, involving a wide range of stakeholders, looking at the identity of the Thames Gateway. This will establish a clear idea about the kind of place the Thames Gateway will be. It can then provide a direction towards which development plans can be orientated, ensuring consistently good design which fits in with and enhances the local surroundings.

Planning Blight (Compensation)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2006, Official Report, column1628W, on planning blight (compensation), whether owner-occupiers are compensated for the loss of a scenic view due to public works.

Yvette Cooper: Under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973, compensation may be payable for a reduction in value of land caused by the use of certain public works. This compensation is based upon the depreciation caused by physical factors: noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, artificial light and the discharge onto land of any solid or liquid substance. Compensation is not available for a loss of view.

Rossendale Borough Council

Janet Anderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the performance of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Rossendale borough council.

Phil Woolas: No representations have been received by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister specifically relating to the performance of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Rossendale borough council.

Standards Board for England

Owen Paterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how much members of the Standards Board for England were paid in 200405;
	(2)  what the running costs of the Standards Board for England were in 200405;
	(3)  how many people are employed by the Standards Board for England;
	(4)  how many complaints were received by the Standards Board for England in 2005.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is provided in the board's annual report and accounts and annual review for 200405. Copies of these documents have been made available in the Library of the House.

Standards Board for England

Owen Paterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many investigations were conducted by ethical standards officers for the Standards Board for England in 2005; and what the cost was.

Phil Woolas: In 200405 ethical standards officers of the Standards Board for England completed 1,446 investigations. Costs incurred by the Standards Board's Investigation Department during this period were about 3.6 million.

Standards Board for England

Owen Paterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many investigations undertaken by the Standards Board for England in 2005 resulted in action being taken against a councillor.

Phil Woolas: In 200405, local authorities' standards committees imposed sanctions against councillors found to have breached the code of conduct in 60 cases, and the Adjudication Panel for England imposed sanctions in 43 cases.

HEALTH

Alzheimer's Disease

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's draft guidelines on prescribing Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has consulted on revised draft guidance on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The consultation ended on 13 February 2006. NICE has not yet finalised its revised guidance to the national health service, and until this new guidance is published in its final form NICE'S existing appraisal of Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl continues to apply.

Ambulance Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her assessment is of the reasons for the trend in demand for ambulance services; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The number of emergency calls to, and incidents attended by, national health service ambulance trusts has increased by around 6 to 7 per cent. a year since 200001. During this time the number of calls per incident has increased, one reason being that greater use of mobile phones mean that more calls are received per incident. The other reasons for increases in demand vary across the country.
	Further data on ambulance service activity can be found in the annual statistical bulletin, 'Ambulance Services, England'. Copies of this are available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk
	Despite increases in the number of 999 calls and incidents attended, performance in the ambulance service is continuing to improve. In 200405, 76.2 per cent. of category A calls resulted in an emergency response arriving at the scene of the incident within eight minutes, compared to 75.7 per cent. in 200304.
	The 2005 review of ambulance services, 'Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services', acknowledges that demand is rising, and the need to address both the way ambulance services are commissioned and organised, and the effectiveness and efficiency with which ambulance trusts use their resources. Therefore, the report makes a series of recommendations for action by the NHS and the Department. A copy of the full report is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/42/70/04114270.pdf

Bedfordshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to date has been of the turnaround team overseeing the deficit reduction in Bedfordshire Heartlands primary care trust (PCT); and what the total estimated cost is of the turnaround team's work at the PCT.

Rosie Winterton: The turnaround teams were announced by the Secretary of State in a written ministerial statement on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS.
	The first stage of this is a baseline assessment, the aim of which is to ensure there is an agreed understanding of the local financial problem and that actions are in hand to address this. Bedfordshire Heartlands national health service primary care trust (PCT) was included in the first phase of this assessment. The Director of Finance, of the Department, published the results of this assessment in a report on 25 January 2006. The PCT was assessed as needing to maintain their focus to achieve financial turnaround. The contract for the initial assessment was awarded in accordance with Department tendering arrangements. The amount of the contract is to be treated as commercial in confidence.
	Following the baseline assessment a tailored package of turnaround support for the PCT will be agreed. Where this requires additional expenditure, this will be paid for by the local NHS.

Business Service Agency

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact on jobs in the Prescription Pricing Authority in (a) Manchester and (b) England of the creation of the NHS Business Service Agency.

Liam Byrne: The creation of the NHS Business Services Authority has had no direct impact on jobs in Manchester. Prior to the creation of the NHS Business Services Authority, the Prescription Pricing Authority had plans agreed for a capacity improvement programme (CIP) which were announced to staff on 3 November 2005 and will introduce new technology to replace the manual processes currently performed by its staff.

Code of Practice Family and Post-mortems

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breaches of the Code of Practice Family and Post-Mortems there have been in relation to the release of bodies to permit funerals within 24 hours to families of (a) Jewish, (b) Muslim and (c) Hindu faiths at (i)Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust, (ii) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (iii) Northwick Park Hospital and (iv) all London hospitals in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information is not collected centrally. Local policies and action on individual cases are a matter for the trusts concerned.

Community Hospitals

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on plans to extend services provided by (a) community hospitals and (b) health centres in the area covered by the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority.

Caroline Flint: As stated in paragraph 25 of the recently published White Paper, Our Health, our Care, our Say: a new direction for community services, the Department aims to provide more care in more local and convenient settings. This will partially be achieved by introducing a new generation of community hospitals and other facilities, such as health centres, with strong ties to social care.
	However, decision making on specific local healthcare provision is a matter for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in consultation with the local population. Therefore, the Department is not in a position to comment on local plans to extend services provided by community hospitals and health centres in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority.

Correspondence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target her Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of responses met that target in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average time taken was to respond to a letter from hon. Members in that period.

Liam Byrne: Our target set is 90 per cent. of all correspondence to have a response within 20 working days of receipt. In the last measured period, January to December 2005, we achieved our target of 90 per cent.
	The average response time over the period 2005 was 20 working days to reply.

Dentistry

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the new General Dental Services contract on (a) the income of dental practices and (b) patients.

Rosie Winterton: Dentists' current national health service earnings will be protected for at least three years, with an annual uplift for pay and prices, and there will be a 5 per cent. reduction in the courses of treatment that general dental services practitioners are expected to carry out each year. Evidence from personal dental services pilots shows that removing the current fee per item remuneration system leads to simpler courses of treatment, with fewer individual interventions and more time available for preventative care. In the Department's view, this is likely to reduce practice expenses as a proportion of gross NHS income, and therefore increase net income, but the precise impact cannot be quantified.
	Patients will benefit from the new contracts in a number of ways. Dentists will have more time available to offer preventative care and advice. The new contracts also reflect clinical guidelines in patient recall intervals, as produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. This will increasingly mean that patients attend at intervals that better reflect their individual oral health needs. In the Department's view, this is likely to enable a greater range of patients to be seen, as patients with good oral health are likely to attend less frequently.

Dentistry

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists serve the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership; and how many dentists in Peterborough constituency (a) operate fully within the NHS and (b) only offer NHS treatment for children.

Rosie Winterton: As at 30 September 2005, there were 65 national health service dentists with a general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) contract within North Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT), which also covers Peterborough parliamentary constituency, and 36 within South Peterborough PCT. These figures have been provided by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre. The data source is the Dental Practice Board.
	A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the PCT. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to private or NHS work by individual dentists. An individual dentist may have a contract with more than one PCT, in which case they will appear in figures for each PCT with which they hold a contract.
	Information about who dentists offer to treat is not collected centrally. However, an analysis of NHS patient registrations data as at 1 June 2005 showed that within South Peterborough PCT there was one dentist having only children registered and in North Peterborough PCT there were not any dentists with only children registered. This analysis is not available at parliamentary constituency area.

Dentistry

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of units of dental activity an NHS dentist with a majority NHS patient list is expected to undertake in a year.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 7 March 2006
	The number of units of dental activity (UDAs) that general dental services (GDS) dentists will be expected to undertake in a year will be based on the weighted courses of treatment reported to the Dental Practice Board during the reference period of October 2004 to September 2005, but with a five per cent. reduction and with flexibility for primary care trusts (PCTs) and dentists to agree adjustments to the annual total where appropriate.
	The number of UDAs for personal dental services (PDS) dentists is a matter for local agreement between PCTs and dentists.
	Until GDS contracts and PDS agreements are finalised and UDAs agreed, it is not possible to estimate an average value.

Dentistry

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Statement by the hon. Member for Doncaster Central, in the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation on 8 February 2006, Official Report, column 21, what other research, apart from the units of dental activity system, her Department undertook to establish a mechanism to monitor the new General Dental Service contract post 1 April 2006 before laying the regulations.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 7 March 2006
	The decision to establish a monitoring mechanism based on measuring weighted courses of treatment took into account evidence from personal dental services (PDS) pilots. This evidence showed that one of the main benefits of abolishing the fee-per-item remuneration system was that dentists were able to carry out simpler courses of treatment with more time for preventative work. The pilots also indicated that there were difficulties monitoring services solely on the basis of patient capitation or similar measures. The system of units of dental activity which are the same as weighted courses of treatment, is designed to promote the same benefits seen in PDS pilots whilst ensuring there is clarity about the level of service expected in a year.

Doctors/Nurses (Recruitment)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to increase the recruitment of (a) doctors and (b) nurses.

Liam Byrne: The Government have substantially increased the national health service work force. Between September 1997 and September 2004, the number of doctors employed in the NHS increased by over 27,400 to 117,036 (23 per cent.) and the number of nurses employed in the NHS has increased by 78,659 (20 per cent.) to 397,515.
	Local employers are responsible for recruiting and retaining the health and social care work force they need to provide local services. The national strategies and tools are already in place to support trusts to recruit andretain staff, promote training and development and redesign their work forces.

Doctors/Nurses (Recruitment)

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacant nursing posts were unfilled, in each strategic health authority in each year since 1997 broken down by nursing specialism; and what assessmentshe has made of the reasons for posts remaining unfilled.

Liam Byrne: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local national health service trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver these services.
	Vacancy information for the non-medical workforce was not collected prior to 1999. Information on vacant nursing posts from 1999 to 2005 has been placed in the Library. There are 25 per cent. more nurses than in 1997; vacancy rates have fallen to 1.9 per cent.; and the number of students entering training each year has increased by over 10,000.

Domestic Violence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the access to GP services by families who have been involved in domestic violence in West Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the West Lancashire Primary Care Trust.
	In January 2006, the Department published Responding to Domestic Abuse: a handbook for Health Professionals which updates the domestic violence manual, published in 2000, providing health care professionals, including general practitioners, with a framework for dealing confidently with women who may or are experiencing domestic abuse and a means to access support and advice. An electronic copy is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/66/19/04126619.pdf.

Domiciliary Oxygen

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the aggregate cost to the NHS of providing (a) routine and (b) emergency domiciliary oxygen supplies under the system based on provision by (i) pharmacists and (ii) central suppliers.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to aggregate and compare the cost to the national health service of providing routine and emergency supply of domiciliary oxygen by pharmacists and central suppliers because of differences in service provision and the basis for calculating costs. In the past, there was no explicit arrangement for pharmacists to provide oxygen to patients at home on an emergency basis. Pharmacists received payment for provision of an oxygen cylinder service, which included the cost of equipment listed in Part 10 of the drug tariff, together with locally negotiated fees for service delivery. The contract for the new service includes the provision of oxygen to patients on an emergency basis, with a delivery requirement of four hours. The cost of all oxygen services provided by new suppliers is on a per day basis. It takes into account the required flow rate for a patient and the hours per day a patient uses oxygen. The per diem rates include supply of oxygen, all associated equipment, delivery, collection and maintenance of equipment and the provision of training to patients and their families on its safe use.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to provide further funding for the MDEX consortium gene therapy clinical trials into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 167W.

Dysfluency

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS speech therapists are employed in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) NHS trust.

Liam Byrne: The number of qualified speech and language therapy staff in England by Government officeregion, strategic health authority area and by organisation as at 30 September 2004 has been placed in the Library.

Expert Patients

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will support self-care by increasing the availability and uptake of expert patient programmes by (a) funding programme leaders and (b) increasing referrals from the NHS and partner organisations.

Rosie Winterton: The Government will continue to support self-care and self-management. One of the ways it will do this is by expanding the expert patients programme (EPP). Using the investment pledged in the manifesto to increase the number of EPP course places from 12,000 a year to over 100,000 by 2012. It is likely that this will be taken forward through the establishment of a community interest company to deliver and market the EPP. Work is already under way with the British Medical Association and other organisations to encourage direct referrals to the EPP.

General Medical Services Contract (Obesity)

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the numbers of obese patients held on registers by general practitioners under the provisions of the new General Medical Services Contract will be collected centrally; and whether she intends to collect information on the numbers and percentages of such patients who are given advice, counselling, treatment or appropriate referrals by those practices.

Caroline Flint: The new quality and outcomes framework for 200607 has been finalised, and includes an indicator which rewards practices for maintaining an obesity register. The recording of body mass index for the register will take place in the practice as part of routine care and will be collected by quality management and analysis system as a percentage of patients. The framework does not currently provide incentives for weight management and advice, and as such no information can be collected on these activities

General Medical Services Contract (Obesity)

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the merits of rewarding practices covered by the General Medical Services contract for offering patients advice on weight loss and management.

Caroline Flint: The negotiation of the new general medical services contract for 200607 included a process for gathering and assessing evidence for changes to the quality and outcomes framework, via an expert panel engaged by NHS Employers. The provision of weight loss and management advice was considered by the expert panel, whose reports will by published by NHS Employers at the end of March.
	The quality and outcomes framework will be subject to a process of change and improvement over times as part of the negotiation process.

Health White Paper

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected timetable is for introduction of the regulation of counsellors and therapists as proposed in paragraph 2.51 of the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say, whether she plans for the regulation of counsellors and therapists to be overseen by the Health Professions Council; what representations she has received regarding the need for regulation of counsellors and therapists, and from whom; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The regulation of counsellors and therapists will be considered in the light of the recent review of non-medical professional regulation. A statement will be given in due course.
	A number of representations have been received regarding the need for regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists from a variety of organisations including professional bodies and service users. A three-month public consultation exercise will take place before any move to statutory regulation of counsellors and therapists.

Hepatitis B

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of people immunised against hepatitis B since 1988 who have subsequently suffered from (a) chronic fatigue syndrome, (b) multiple sclerosis and (c) rheumatoid arthritis;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of people working in the NHS immunised against hepatitis B since 1988 in each of the categories recommended by the NHS who have subsequently suffered from (a) chronic fatigue syndrome, (b) multiple sclerosis and (c) rheumatoid arthritis.

Jane Kennedy: The safety of all medicines and vaccines, including hepatitis B vaccine, is continuously monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with expert advice from the commission on human medicines (CHM). The MHRA uses a variety of data sources for this purpose but an important source of information is spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions that are reported by health professionals, pharmaceutical companies and most recently by patients through the yellow card scheme.
	Since 1988, the MHRA has received a total of 13 reports of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 11 reports of rheumatoid arthritis and 16 reports of multiple sclerosis in people who have received hepatitis B vaccination. This is in the context of 16.2 million doses of hepatitis B vaccine sold in the United Kingdom. We are unable to state how many of these suspected adverse reactions (ADRs) occurred in national health service workers as this information is not captured on a yellow card.
	Since the yellow card scheme is entirely voluntary for health professionals, these data cannot be used as a reliable indicator of the frequency of suspected ADRs to vaccines or medicines as not all cases may be reported. In addition, an association of a patient's illness with a particular medicine or vaccine may not always be made, particularly for conditions that take some time to manifest. It is important to note that the reporting of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug or vaccine. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication, a previously undiagnosed underlying illness or a coincidental newly occurring illness.
	As with all licensed medicines the MHRA will continue to carefully examine any important new evidence as it emerges, seeking the advice of independent experts as necessary, and will communicate new safety information to health professionals and the public.

HIV

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the (a) efficacy and (b) availability of post-exposure prophylaxis following (i) sexual and (ii) occupational exposure to HIV; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The assessment and provision of specific treatments, including post exposure prophylaxis following sexual or occupational exposure to HIV, is a matter for local national health service organisations, which are best placed to assess and meet local needs.
	To support them, however, the Department funded the Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health (MedFASH) to produce the Recommended Standards for NHS HIV Services, published in 2003. This states that: the NHS should make non-occupational PEP available to all who need it and develop protocols for provision.
	These standards were disseminated to primary care trust sexual health leads in England. The Department also published guidance on HIV post-exposure prophylaxis from the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers' expert advisory group on AIDS (EAGA) in June 1997, with subsequent updated versions in July 2000 and February 2004. EAGA is currently reviewing the 2004 guidance, which is available on the Department's website at: www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/eaga/publications.htm.
	The Health Protection Agency carries out surveillance of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses in health care workers. The latest report is available on the website at: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/bbv/s_report.htm.

MRI Scans

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of waiting times for routine MRI scans in (a) Uxbridge constituency, (b) North West London, (c) London and (d) England.

Jane Kennedy: During 2005, the Department collected some diagnostic waiting time and activity data, including data on magnetic resonance imaging, from 21 trusts as part of piloting work to underpin development of the 18-week patient pathway. The pilot data is unvalidated management information from a relatively small sample of trusts; is of variable quality; and does not separately identify routine from urgent scans.
	Some limited modelling of this data has been done at a national level. We intend to publish a summary of 18 weeks-related analysis in the spring in conjunction with publication of the 18-week implementation plan. We also intend to commence routine publication of data on diagnostic waiting times and activity this spring.

MS Centres (Inspection Costs)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely effect on fees charged to multiple sclerosis centres for the inspection of type 3 barochambers of the transfer of the responsibility for inspection from her Department to the Healthcare Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I met representatives of multiple sclerosis therapy centres in July 2005. It was subsequently decided that these establishments should continue to be subject to the Healthcare Commission's regulatory regime but I asked departmental officials to work with them on possible options for reducing the inspection burden on therapy centres.
	The Healthcare Commission consulted on its proposed fee structure for 200607 between November 2005 and February this year. The consultation document specifically asked for views on whether there should be a reduced level of fees for establishments which are substantially reliant on voluntary donations for their income. The Healthcare Commission is currently considering responses to the consultation which is expected to receive their detailed proposals in late March or early April.

Newmarket Hospital

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of Newmarket Hospital.

Rosie Winterton: The Suffolk West Primary Care Trust (PCT) Board will meet in due course to discuss the outcome of the public consultation exercise. The decision about the future of Newmarket Hospital will be taken at that meeting. Proposals in the consultation were for the closure of the 16 in-patient beds at Newmarket Community Hospital and replacing them with enhanced intermediate care provision.
	There are also outline plans for the re-design of Newmarket Community Hospital. These include:
	a modern general practitioner practice which, together with the PCT, will provide a wide range of services including diagnostics, for example blood tests, and clinics;
	a dispensary and commercial pharmacy; and
	facilities for minor medical procedures, for example, GP minor surgery.

NHS Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
	(1)  how much has been allocated (a) in total and (b) per capita for health spending in (i) Gloucestershire, (ii) West Gloucestershire primary care trust, (iii) Gloucestershire Hospitals Acute Trust and (iv)Gloucestershire ambulance trust in (A) 200506 and (B) 200607;
	(2)  how much has been allocated (a) in total and (b) per capita for health spending in (i) England, (ii) each county in England and (iii) each constituencyin England for the years (A) 200506 and (B) 200607.

Liam Byrne: Revenue allocations are made direct to primary care trusts (PCTs). They are not made to counties, constituencies or national health service trusts. The information is not therefore, available in the format requested.
	Information on the allocations and the per capita funding for each PCT, including West Gloucestershire PCT has been placed in the Library.

NHS Finance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's latest estimate is of the level of NHS overspend for the 200506 financial year; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The latest available information shows that for 200506 at month six, the national health service is forecasting a deficit of 620 million. This forecast deficit amounts to less than 1 per cent. of the funding available. The unaudited data for the mid-year point shows that two thirds of the forecast deficit is in around 7 per cent. of organisations.

NHS Organisations

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at the end of which financial year she expects NHS organisations to achieve a collective breakeven position.

Jane Kennedy: It is anticipated that national health service organisations will achieve a collective break-even position by the end of 200607.

NHS Organisations

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she made of the financial position of primary care trusts, foundation trusts and other national health service organisations before finalising levels of funding for local authorities for 200607.

Liam Byrne: The Government provide funding for adults' social services through both the overall formula grant allocated to local authorities by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and the specific revenue and capital grants allocated directly to councils from individual Departments. In respect of the 200607 and 200708 allocations, the attribution of adults' social care funding is based on brand new needs-based formulae for both the younger adults' and older people's service blocks. These formulae take also account of the effect of geography on pay and prices through the use of an area cost adjustment.
	While the Department is responsible for establishing overall social care policy, councils have a significant degree of flexibility to manage and direct their own resources according to local priorities and the needs of the communities they represent.
	Revenue allocations are made to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each PCTs' target share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.

NHS Productivity

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on productivity in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Figures published by the Department on 7 December 2005 in Healthcare Output and Productivity: Accounting for Quality Change showed that on average, national health service productivity increased by 0.8 per cent. a year, between 19992000 and 200304, the latest years for which figures are available.

Obesity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition of obesity her Department uses.

Caroline Flint: The body mass index (BMI) is the common method used when evaluating individual people to see if they are under or overweight. This involves comparing their weight to their height by dividing the weight measurement (expressed in kilograms) by the square of the height (expressed in meters).
	For adults, the following BMI definitions are used to identify obesity in adults:
	
		
			 BMI Definition 
		
		
			 18.5 or less underweight 
			 Over 18.5 to 25 desirable weight 
			 Over 25 to 30 overweight 
			 Over 30 to 40 obese 
			 Over 40 morbidly obese 
		
	
	With regard to children, clinicians tend to use the 91st and 98th centile when dealing with individual children but for the purposes of population monitoring, children are defined as overweight and obese if their BMI falls above the 85th and 95th centile, respectively, of the reference curve for their age and gender.
	A report by the World Health Organisation suggests that increased risk is present when the waist measurement exceeds 94 centimetres (37 inches) for men or 80 centimetres (32 inches) for women.

Obesity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the findings from research commissioned by her Department on the extent to which morbid obesity runs in families.

Caroline Flint: No research has been commissioned by the Department on the extent to which morbid obesity runs in families.

Obesity

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her most recent estimate is of the number and percentage of children estimated to be obese.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 16 February 2006
	The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity among children is the Health Survey for England (HSE). The HSE supplies an estimate of the prevalence of obesity among children aged two to 10 rather than the actual number of children who are obese. In 2003, the prevalence of obesity among children aged two to 10 years, in England was 13.7 per cent.

Obesity

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were obese in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity among children is the Health Survey for England (HSE). The HSE supplies an estimate of the prevalence of obesity for 1997 to 2003 among children aged between two to 15 rather than to specify the actual number of children who are obese.
	The results in the table show obesity prevalence for children by sex, aged two to 10, 1115 and two to 15. The 2003 data which are presented are the most recent available.
	
		Obesity prevalence for children, by age and sex, England , 19972003 (National BMI percentile classification): Children aged 2 to 15 -- Percentage
		
			 Obesity prevalence 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Boys
			 2 to10 11.1 11.4 16.1 12.2 13.5 15.2 14.9 
			 11 to 15 15.6 16.3 16.9 18.8 18.8 19.8 20.4 
			 2 to15 12.7 13.0 16.4 14.5 15.5 16.9 17.0 
			 
			 Girls
			 2 to10 10.7 11.8 13.0 11.8 12.7 15.8 12.5 
			 11 to 15 16.2 17.5 15.2 18.1 17.7 19.2 21.9 
			 2 to15 12.4 13.8 13.7 14.2 14.5 17.1 16.1 
			 
			 Bases (weighted)
			 Boys
			 2 to10 2,007 1,336 633 570 1,035 2,364 876 
			 11 to 15 1,056 645 343 306 618 1,381 533 
			 2 to15 3,063 1,981 977 877 1,653 3,745 1,410 
			 
			 Girls
			 2 to10 2,082 1,216 628 523 1,094 2290 897 
			 11 to 15 987 656 322 318 605 1346 547 
			 2 to 15 3,069.004  1,872 950 841 1,699 3,636 1,444 
		
	
	Notes:
	Prevalence based on the UK National BMI percentile classification. Bases have been weighted for non- selection.
	Source:
	Health Survey for England. Department of Health

Over the Counter Medicines

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the better regulation of over the counter medicines initiative to make its recommendations; if she will release minutes of the initiative's consultations with industry and other stakeholders; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I have asked that the better regulation of over the counter (OTC) medicines initiative delivers its first proposals to simplify regulatory burdens for OTC medicines in April 2006.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will publish a full report including its consultations with industry and other stakeholders at that time.

Pandemic Influenza

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education and Skills on contingency planning for an outbreak of pandemic influenza.

Rosie Winterton: Officials from the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) attend the cross-government working group on pandemic influenza. A Minister from DFES also attends the Cabinet committee on pandemic influenza (MISC 32). The purpose of these meetings is for Government departments to coordinate contingency planning for a future pandemic.
	Departmental officials also regularly discuss preparedness with colleagues from DFES in order to support DFES in developing appropriate plans in their sector for a future pandemic.

Parliamentary Questions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to answer Question 32012, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 22 November 2005 on children's teeth.

Rosie Winterton: A reply was given to the hon. Member on 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 426W.

Personality Disorder Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what commissioning arrangements will pertain for specialist personality disorder services (a) at the Henderson hospital in Sutton and (b) in England (i) in 200607 and (ii) over the next five years,

Rosie Winterton: A severe personality disorder service which is based on the therapeutic community model, has been nationally commissioned from the Henderson hospital under the auspices of the national specialist commissioning advisory group since 1998 with a further two units in Crewe and Birmingham opening in 2000.
	Specialised services commissioners in the national health service, who will take over responsibility for the commissioning of these services from 1 April 2006, have informed the three host trusts of their intention to commission on a steady state basis for 200607 with devolved funding committed to the service. This allows a transitional period during which longer-term commissioning intentions can be agreed.
	Across the country regional capacity plans have now been completed outlining strategies for the future development of local personality disorder services. Specialised services commissioners will review their plans for the future commissioning of the severe personality disorder services referred to above in the light of these plans.

Practice-based Contracting

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that effective (a) training, (b) support and (c) guidance is provided to all general practitioners to enable them to use practice based contracting to maximum benefit for patients; and what assessment she has made of the level of resources necessary to achieve such provision.

Liam Byrne: To maximise the benefits of practice based commissioning (PBC), the Department has resourced and put in place a comprehensive programme providing training, support, and guidance material for general practitioners (GPs) and primary care trusts (PCTs).
	As part of this programme, the national primary care development team will be providing training and support to PCTs and GP practices. In addition, a number of other professional bodies will be supporting their members with PBC these include: the National Association of Primary Care, NHS Alliance, General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association, NHS Confederation, and the Royal College of Nurses. Further details of the support programme are available in Annexes A and B of the publication Practice based commissioning: achieving universal coverage, which is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/74/25/04127425.pdf.
	The Department has also published guidance specifically for clinicians. This includes the document Practice based commissioning: early wins and top tips published in February 2006, which contains tips to support PBC and suggestions as to how it can be used to redesign care pathways. This publication is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/82/74/04128274.pdf and it has been issued directly to all GPs.

Psychiatric Secure Accommodation

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients detained under the Mental Health and Criminal Justice Acts have absconded from psychiatric secure units over the past 10 years; and how many such absconsions there have been from the Butler Clinic, Langdon hospital, Dawlish.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not routinely collect information about absconsions from secure psychiatric units. Information has, however, been obtained in respect of the Butler Clinic, which shows that over the last three years, the period for which accurate information is readily available, 13 patients who were detained under mental health legislation, including those detained under mental health legislation following contact with the Criminal Justice System, were absent from the clinic without agreement. Only one of these patients breached the security of the clinic. The other patient absences related to service users failing to return at the agreed time or failing to return from agreed leave.

Psychiatric Secure Accommodation

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the classifications are of psychiatric secure units within the national health service; and what the classification is of the Butler Clinic, Langdon hospital, Dawlish, South Devon.

Rosie Winterton: Secure psychiatric units within the national health service are commonly classified as being high secure, medium secure or low secure. NHS trusts providing high secure psychiatric services have to be approved for that purpose by the Secretary of State. In security terms, high secure psychiatric facilities are expected to equate to category B prison standards. The Butler Clinic is classified as a medium secure psychiatric unit. A Design Guide for medium secure psychiatric units was published in 1993.

Raw Milk Products

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on the labelling of raw milk products at retail level;
	(2)  what the outcome was of the Government's consultation on the consolidation of EU food hygiene legislation in respect of the labelling of raw milk cheese.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency takes the view that raw milk products, including raw milk cheese, should be labelled in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. The European Commission has issued guidance about this new hygiene legislation, which explains that raw milk products should be labelled made with raw milk at the point of retail sale in order that consumers can make informed choices.
	When stakeholders were asked whether the regulation requires raw milk products to be labelled made with raw milk at retail level, there was no consensus. There was, however, a body of opinion that expressed the view that raw milk products should be so labelled to allow consumers to choose.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's latest recommendations on the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus for premature babies; and if she will publish those recommendations;
	(2)  whether she has concluded her review of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's latest estimate of the number of babies that should receive preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus; and if she will publish that estimate.

Caroline Flint: A summary of the evidence reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and estimates of the number of babies that this treatment would be recommended for will be made available on the JCVI website shortly.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that primary care trusts take a pro-active approach in preventing respiratory syncytial virus from infecting premature babies.

Caroline Flint: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for the management of services and for specifying the level and quality of services provided. PCTs will in turn be held to account for their performance by the strategic health authority.

Sexual Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the provision of sexual health services in Hampshire.

Caroline Flint: It is for strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to determine how services are provided within their area.
	Data for 2004 for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, contraception and abortion are available from the following websites.
	www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/publications/hiv_sti_2005/pdf/MtI_FC_ report.pdf (Health Protection Agency)
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/contraceng2005/sb0506.pdf/file (NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre) www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/ll/75/74/04117574.pdf (Department of Health)

Sexual Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if the 300 million made available for improving sexual health services in 200607 and 200708 through the Choosing Health White Paper will be ring-fenced; how the spending will be tracked; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2005, Official Report, column 263W, on genito-urinary clinics, what steps she is taking to ensure that the additional investment of 130 million goes directly towards improving genito-urinary services and infrastructure in 200607 and 200708.

Caroline Flint: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations. PCTs and strategic health authorities (SHAs) will receive funding for implementing the targets in the White Paper Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier in their mainstream allocations and we will be monitoring the outcomes through the local delivery plan data lines from this investment. The revenue allocations separately identify funding to support the implementation of Choosing Health. This funding is not ring-fenced. A copy of the White Paper is available in the Library.
	Sexual health is one of the top six priorities for the national health service in 200607. In particular, by 2008 everyone should be offered an appointment within 48 hours of contacting a genito-urinary medicine clinic. SHAs have submitted plans to meet this target. This increased priority for sexual health should significantly strengthen the incentive for local investment and service modernisation.
	In addition, a letter has been sent to SHA chief executives highlighting that when considering any savings from implementing Commissioning a patient led NHS savings should not be identified from those posts working on implementation of choosing health. This includes posts in frontline services.

Sexual Health

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department expects to publish its planned magazine for young people addressing sexual health issues.

Caroline Flint: We regularly convey our messages to young people on the issue of sexual health via a broad range of publications. Through Dr. Foster Publishing we regularly publish titles such as Your Life! and FIT, which target younger men and women with a host of messages, across a range of health issues including sexual health. These free publications, available from general practitioner surgeries, genitor-urinary medicine clinics and other national health service access points, enable us to deliver key messages in an engaging and relevant way.
	In addition, ongoing public relations activity on both sexual health and teenage pregnancy targets publications aimed at young people from 13 to 30 with information to help them to make healthier sexual health choices. However, there are no plans to publish a magazine specifically addressing sexual health.

Smoking

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice the Government received from the Better Regulation Task Force on restriction of smoking in workplaces.

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of (a) the Better Regulation Task Force's (BRTF) response to theproposed regulations and exemptions relating to the smoking ban set out in the Health Bill and (b) other written comments made by the BRTF on the Bill.

Caroline Flint: The Government took into account advice from the better regulation task force (BRTF) in deciding on the smokefree provisions of the Health Bill.
	The BRTF is an independent body, set up to advise Government on action to ensure that regulation and its enforcement comply with the five principles of good regulation. The Government, through the Cabinet Office, sponsors the BRTF but does not speak for it.

Smoking

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths have been caused by smoking-related illnesses in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: These figures are not collected annually.
	For the latest available data, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 2028W.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much of the agreed efficiency target for her Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review is to be cashable; and under what budget headings these cashable efficiency savings will be re-spent;
	(2)  what total efficiency savings were achieved by her Department in 200405; and whether these count towards the agreed efficiency target for her Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review;

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what baseline figures she is using for assessing progress on her Department's targets to (a) make better use of (i)staff time and (ii) NHS buying power, (b) ensure NHS organisations can share and rationalise back office services and (c) improve commissioning of social care; what progress has been made towards these targets to date; and what the total efficiency savings achieved to date are for these targets.

Jane Kennedy: Our efficiency technical Note, first published in October 2004 and updated in December 2005 confirms that at least 50 per cent. of our 6.5 billion target should be cashable. Cashable efficiency savings have not been allocated to specific national health service budget headings.
	In our autumn performance report published in December 2005, we confirmed that 1,031 million of savings were achieved in 200405. These savings do contribute to the 2008 target in line with the commitments made in the Gershon Report, Releasing Resources to the Front Line and confirmed in the 2004 Spending review settlement.
	The efficiency technical note sets out the specific measurement processes, indicators and their baseline dates for calculating efficiency gains. There are over 30 separate processes and indicators appropriate to the different types of efficiency gains. Baseline dates for all efficiency measures are March 2004.
	The 2005 autumn performance report summarises efficiency savings achieved by work-stream to September 2005. The total saving up to this date was 1,709 million.

United Health Europe

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the contract awarded by North Eastern Derbyshire Primary Care Trust to United Health Europe to run GP practices in Europe was advertised; how many organisations tendered for the contract; how many organisations were shortlisted; and what the criteria were for shortlisting.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The North Eastern Derbyshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is responsible for the alternative provider medical services contract in its locality. I refer the hon. Member to the North Eastern Derbyshire PCT.

Waiting Lists/Times

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances a patient can be removed from an in-patient waiting list; and what alternative lists they are transferred onto in those circumstances.

Jane Kennedy: A patient can be removed from an in-patient waiting list for the following reasons:
	the treatment is no longer neededthe patient no longer requires treatment or has died,
	the treatment is no longer wantedthe patient asks to be removed from the list,
	the treatment becomes inappropriate for clinical reasons and
	the patient becomes an emergency admission for the same condition.
	In each of the four circumstances detailed, the patient would not be transferred on to an alternative waiting list.

Waiting Lists/Times

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1179W, on waiting lists/times, what the framework of milestones is which has been agreed with strategic health authorities and against which progress towards the 18-week waiting time target will be measured.

Jane Kennedy: The framework of milestones agreed with strategic health authorities as part of the local delivery plan guidance is that:
	Out-patient waits should generally be less than:
	13 weeks by March 2006;
	11 weeks by March 2007; and
	five weeks by March 2008.
	Diagnostic waits should generally be less than:
	26 weeks by March 2006, for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised topography (CT) scans;
	13 weeks for all diagnostic tests by March 2007; and
	six weeks for all diagnostics tests by March 2008.
	In-patient waits should generally be less than:
	26 weeks by March 2006;
	20 weeks by March 2007; and
	11 weeks by March 2008.
	By December 2008, the patient pathway should be 18 weeks inclusive of out-patients, diagnostics, and in-patients waits. National health service organisations are developing local plans to achieve this pathway. The milestones themselves are not targets and as such there is discretion locally as to how best to progress towards 18 weeks overall.

Working with Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals who are on the sex offenders' register are currently working in the (a) NHS, (b) social services departments and (c) children's services departments.

Liam Byrne: The responsibility for carrying out pre-employment checks, including Criminal Records Bureau, Protection of Children's Act and Protection of Vulnerable Adults checks where applicable, rests with the relevant employer whether an national health service organisation or social services department or other regulated provider of health or social care. The NHS is required to follow the guidance, Safer Recruitment issued in May 2005, which covers all the pre-and post-appointment checks that NHS employers are required to make before appointing anyone, including employees, volunteers, students, trainees, to a position in the NHS. In regulated social care, we expect providers to comply with regulations on pre-employment checks made under the Care Standards Act 2000, which came into force in April 2002.
	Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 replaced Part1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and Schedule 3 to the 2003 Act came into force on 1 May 2004. The act requires convicted sex offenders to report each year to their local police and inform the police if they change their name or address within three days instead of the previous 14days.